Heartstart Discovery reaches 50000 participants

04-10-16 Heartstart Discovery reaches 50000 participants

TUESDAY, 4 OCTOBER 2016

PHOTO: PUPILS FROM COMRIE PRIMARY SCHOOL ON THE HEARTSTART DISCOVERY COURSE

Heartstart Discovery reaches 50,000 participants

Heartstart Discovery has reached a major milestone with the training of its 50,000th participant.

The landmark figure was reached last week (Wednesday, 28 September) as Heartstart Discovery

co-ordinator Helen Brady visited Comrie Primary School where pupils were trained in cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic life support skills through the British Heart Foundations Heartstart for Schools Initiative.

Helen said, “Emergency Life Support gives people the skills to know what to do should they be faced with a real-life emergency. A properly trained child can save lives as effectively as an adult. Children as young as 10 years old can be taught the full range of ELS skills”

“The Schools Initiative is structured in such a way that everyone can learn a little and how to remain calm and take control of a situation. The children are incredibly enthusiastic, thoroughly enjoy

themselves and appear much more confident following a session.”

Chairman of the Heartstart Discovery Co-ordinating Committee Mrs Frances Havenga said, “Since our launch in May 1997, we have trained not only 50,000 people but in addition, many thousands of children through the Heartstart for Schools Initiative. This is an amazing feat, especially when you consider that our leaders and trainers are all unpaid volunteers and are doing this important work in whatever spare time they have.

“While our regular CPR courses at venues across Tayside are very well attended by individuals, there is also a huge demand for group training in the community and at many kinds of workplaces, organisations and clubs which could range from a garage workshop to a school.

“We never know when we are going to meet someone who has just had a heart attack, but if we are prepared – through going along to a free Heartstart course – we may be able to save someone’s life.”

Heartstart Discovery delivers free emergency life support training for members of public across Tayside. Sessions are available throughout October in Dundee, Blairgowrie, Perth and Montrose.

Courses are free-of-charge and no medical knowledge is required in order to undertake one. It only takes two hours to learn the skills which may save a life and it is very likely that the person you help may be a family member or someone close to you.

Saturday, 8 October 10am-noon Perth

Tuesday, 18 October 5.30-7.30pm Blairgowrie

Tuesday, 18 October 2-4pm Dundee

Wednesday, 26 October 7-9pm Dundee

Monday, 24 October 2-4pm Montrose

The sessions cover:

• caring for an unconscious person who is breathing

• caring for an unconscious person who is not breathing and performing CPR

• how to recognise the signs and symptoms of a heart attack and how to deal with it

• helping someone who is choking

• helping someone who is bleeding badly

Heartstart Discovery began in 1997 and over the past 19 years it has trained thousands of ordinary people in Tayside in basic life support skills.

Being able to perform emergency life support, a set of actions needed to keep someone alive until professional help arrives, gives a casualty the best possible chance of survival.

For further details and to register for sessions please contact Helen Brady on 01382 740400 or helenjbrady@nhs.net

Training sessions can also be arranged on request for groups, organisations and clubs.

Contact:

Sarah Morris

NHS Tayside Communications

(01382) 740720

4 October 2016