Damian Hinds is encouraging people to join the campaign to dramatically increase the number of people trained in life-saving CPR and help create a Nation of Lifesavers.
More than 30,000 people suffer an out of hospital cardiac arrest in the UK every year – 80% of which occur in the home, often in front of family members and loved ones. But fewer than one in ten people survive, partly because not enough people have the skills and confidence to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
The British Heart Foundation says that the Nation of Lifesavers initiative could save around 5,000 additional lives a year in the UK, based on survival rates in countries like Norway where CPR training is mandatory in schools. The BHF is calling for CPR and public access defibrillator (PAD) awareness to be taught in all secondary schools. Since the launch of the campaign on October 16, more than 5,000 people have already signed the petition to make these skills part of the curriculum.
Today, Damian has pledged his support for the Nation of Lifesavers campaign and is highlighting to secondary schools and community groups in East Hampshire the opportunity to order their free Call Push Rescue Training Kit.
Damian said:
“When I was at university, it struck me that the American students generally knew how to perform CPR but we British student typically did not. I want British students to have the skills and confidence to know what to do in the event of cardiac arrest. Just 30 minutes of training could save someone’s life – this initiative could save thousands of lives each year.”
The innovative training programme enables schools, workplaces, and community groups to become completely self-sufficient in teaching the three simple steps that could save a life: Call. Push. Rescue.