More Than 10,000 Island Children Taught Life-Saving CPR Skills

More than 10,000 Isle of Wight children have been taught how to perform CPR over the past decade, as the Island’s ambulance service marks ten years of delivering life-saving training in schools.

This year, more than 550 pupils from 17 schools took part in sessions at Island fire stations to mark Restart a Heart Day on October 16.

Ambulance service staff and volunteers showed the children how to carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use a defibrillator, helping them build the confidence to act in an emergency.

Eight in ten out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home, meaning those needing help could be family members, friends or other loved ones.

Starting CPR before an ambulance arrives can significantly improve someone's chance of survival.

Louise Walker, Head of Education and Community Response at Isle of Wight Ambulance Service, said teaching young people these skills could make a significant difference.

She encouraged people not to be afraid of getting CPR wrong, saying doing something was better than doing nothing.

‘I am here today’

Laura Summers knows first-hand how important a quick response can be.

She suffered a cardiac arrest at the school where she worked and survived thanks to colleagues who started CPR and used a defibrillator.

Laura said:

“I feel so lucky looking back that my friends and colleagues jumped into action quickly and started CPR while we waited for the ambulance to arrive.

"My heart had stopped for three minutes and, through their quick thinking and use of a defibrillator, I am here today.”

She now helps raise awareness of cardiac arrest and the importance of CPR, meeting pupils at Newport Fire Station during this year's training sessions to thank them for learning potentially life-saving skills.

The training is part of the ambulance service's Small Island, Big Heart project, which aims to improve survival rates following cardiac arrest by expanding CPR training and access to public defibrillators.

The project also supports people affected by cardiac arrest through the Isle of Wight Ambulance Life After Cardiac Arrest (LACA) network, connecting survivors, families and others who have been involved in an emergency.

Anyone who has survived a cardiac arrest or supported someone through one can find out more at www.iow.nhs.uk/LACA or by calling 534111.