Call for children to be taught lifesaving CPR

People in the South West believe children should be taught CPR in schools, according to new research by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).

The BHF polled over 2,000 people and found that 89% of people in the South West thought that children should leave secondary school knowing the life-saving skill.

More than 30,000 people have a cardiac arrest outside of hospital, but less than one-in-ten survive - partly because people don’t have the skills or confidence to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).  

Survival rates in the UK are much lower than other countries. In parts of Norway, where children learn CPR in schools, up to 25% people survive a cardiac arrest.

To improve survival rates, the BHF is calling on people in the South West to visit their local BHF shop to sign a petition urging the Government to ensure all children are taught CPR in school.

Angie Vidler, Regional Manager of the British Heart Foundation, said: “Lives are lost every day because people do not have the skills to act in a life-threatening situation.

“We believe that every child should leave school knowing how to perform CPR. That’s why we need people to go into their local shop, sign the petition, and help create a nation of lifesavers.

“Children learn many lessons in school but what is more important than knowing how to save a life?”

People can sign the petition by going into their local shop and asking a member of staff. To find your local BHF shop go to bhf.org.uk/map or call 0800 915 7000.