NEWSLINE WAST
Welsh Ambulance Service trains 12,000 school pupils in Wales on Restart a Heart Day 2017
Across the UK as a whole it is
to 73% in Norway where the
Every second counts, and it simply
hoped that 150,000 young people
survival rate is considerably higher.
isn’t enough to hope that someone
will learn the skill as part of the
The evidence in favour of members
who knows CPR is present.
mass CPR training day.
of the public learning CPR is obvious. So by having as many
“Restart a Heart Day is an annual
Currently in the UK, less than one
secondary schools as possible
day to increase awareness of
in ten (8.6%) people survive a
taking part in Restart a Heart Day
the importance of CPR. We need
cardiac arrest. The BHF predicts
2017, it has enabled our staff and
everyone in Wales to learn this
that if the UK achieved the same
volunteers to pass on their skills
life-saving skill to give them the
Up to 12,000 school students
survival rates reported in countries
to pupils who will then have this
confidence to step in and give
have been taught lifesaving
like Norway (25%), where CPR is
valuable skill for life.”
CPR when someone collapses
skills as part of a national
more widely taught in schools,
campaign.
an additional 100 lives could be
The event was organised in
saved each week - the equivalent
conjunction with the Resuscitation
“That’s why we are urging
of approximately 5,000 every year.
Council (UK), the BHF, which
secondary schools across the UK
provides the training equipment
to apply for our free training kits and help create a Nation of Lifesavers.”
During Restart a Heart Day 2017 on Monday 16th October,
after a cardiac arrest.
approximately 60 secondary
Dr Brendan Lloyd, Medical
free of charge as part of its
schools were shown how to carry
Director for WAST said: “Many
Nation of Lifesavers campaign,
out CPR by more than 200 Welsh
people don’t realise that if
St John Ambulance and Welsh
Ambulance Services NHS Trust
someone suffers a cardiac arrest
Ambulances Services NHS Trust.
(WAST) staff and volunteers.
in front of a bystander, who
All of the UK’s 13 ambulance
immediately starts CPR before the
trusts have been working in
They used training DVDs and
arrival of the ambulance service,
partnership to hold simultaneous
inflatable manikins provided by
their chances of survival double.
CPR training events to mark
the British Heart Foundation (BHF)
Restart a Heart Day 2017.
SAS
Caledonian Truck and Van clinches contract to support Scottish Ambulance Service
to give young people across
“Currently in the UK, bystanders
Wales the skills to help someone
only get involved in doing CPR in
First Minister Carwyn Jones
who has suffered a cardiac arrest.
43% of cardiac arrests, compared
visited pupils at Llanishen High
The people of Scotland are
School, Cardiff to watch a CPR
assured of safe and reliable
training session while the Cabinet
transport when they need it
Secretary for Health, Well-being
most, following the introduction
and Sport Vaughan Gething
this year of more than 150 new
attended Sir Thomas Picton
Mercedes-Benz ambulances.
School, Haverfordwest. Sprinter models bearing the First Minister Carwyn Jones said:
famous three-pointed star now
“When someone collapses after
account for well over half of the
a cardiac arrest, every second
Scottish Ambulance Service fleet.
counts. Knowing simple CPR skills is vital to ensure you can give that
Supplied by Caledonian Truck
person, loved-one or stranger, the
& Van, the latest vehicles are all
best chance of survival.
5.0-tonne Sprinter 519 CDIs with muscular 190 hp six-cylinder
“I’m very impressed by the
engines.
numbers of school pupils taking
AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER
part in Restart a Heart across
The overwhelming majority are
Wales and I’m pleased to see how
front-line accident and emergency
the Welsh Ambulance Service,
ambulances. Most are now in
BHF, St John Ambulance and
service, with the last few due to
schools are providing life-saving
start work in the coming weeks.
skills to young people.” Also hitting the road are seven
PRO M VE A 2 B
W I T H
D I G N I T Y
Adam Fletcher, Head of British
primary and secondary response
Heart Foundation Cymru, said:
units, four of them all-wheel
“CPR may be the difference
drive variants with extra ground
between life and death for
clearance, and three specialist
hundreds of people who every year
vehicles for dealing with
in Wales suffer a cardiac arrest.
contamination incidents.
258 For further recruitment vacancies visit: www.ambulanceukonline.com