EVESHAM’S MP Nigel Huddleston has urged all secondary schools in the Vale to teach their students CPR after warnings thousands of lives could be saved if more people knew how to perform the lifesaving skill.
The Mid-Worcestershire MP has made the call after he met representatives from the British Heart Foundation, St John Ambulance and British Red Cross in Westminster last week to discuss making first aid skills a vital part of the school curriculum.
BHF estimates that 10,000 people die every year who’s lives could be saved if more people had CPR skills.
Mr Huddleston said: “It is worrying to hear the number of lives being lost because rates of bystander CPR in the UK are too low.
“Every second counts, and CPR really is the difference between life and death. It would be great if all young people had the skills to save a life.”
Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation, added: “It’s great to have the support of Nigel Huddleston MP in incorporating this life saving skill into the secondary school curriculum. The chance of surviving is almost zero if people collapse and receive no bystander CPR until the emergency services arrive.
“There is clearly a huge benefit to the public knowing life saving CPR skills, evidenced by the vastly better survival rates from cardiac arrests in countries where CPR is part of the curriculum. Thousands of deaths could be prevented if more people learn CPR.
“I encourage all secondary schools in Mid Worcestershire to apply for the BHF’s free training kits by visiting bhf.org.uk/cpr.”
