CPR training will help save lives

Andrew Redgrave (far left) with fellow NWAS colleagues and Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham outside the House of Commons in 2015 at a lobbying event to push for basic life support education

The North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has pledge its support for CPR training to be added to the national curriculum after the Department of Education released new draft guidance.

Work has been ongoing for many years by NWAS, particularly under their Cardiac Smart umbrella, to promote the importance of CPR training in improving the survival rates for out of hospital cardiac arrests.

The Department of Education is now seeking views on the proposed changes in relationships education, relationships and sex education, and health education, which include making CPR and first aid lessons for pupils compulsory.

Andrew Redgrave, Regional Community Engagement Manager for North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), said: “This is a real breakthrough for the work that we have been doing for many years and we fully support the calls to teach basic first aid, CPR and defibrillator use within schools.

“These simple skills really do save lives and the younger that people learn, the more effective their skills will be and more lives will be saved.

“When a person has a cardiac arrest, their chance of survival reduces by 10% for every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation which is why it is vital that people in the community are made aware of what needs to be done and can start life-saving treatment even before an ambulance is able to get there.”

The consultation on the revised guidance is now open and can be found on the Department of Education website using the following link where views can be shares using an online survey: https://consult.education.gov.uk/pshe/relationships-education-rse-health-education/

More information on NWAS’ Cardiac Smart initiative along with basic life support skills can be found at: http://www.cardiacsmart.nwas.nhs.uk/.

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