Alex Cunningham is urging residents across the Stockton Borough to join him in the campaign to dramatically increase the number of people trained in life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and help create a Nation of Lifesavers
The Stockton North MP recently met Samantha Hobbs, who at 14 helped to save her mum’s life by performing CPR. And the Labour MP has now pledged his support for the Nation of Lifesavers campaign and is calling on secondary schools and community groups to order their free Call Push Rescue training Kit.
More than 30,000 people suffer an out of hospital cardiac arrest in the UK every year. Of these, 80 per cent occur in the home, often in front of family members and loved ones. Sadly, fewer than one in ten people survive, partly because not enough people have the skills and confidence to perform CPR.
The British Heart Foundation estimates that the initiative could save 5,000 additional lives a year in the UK, based on survival rates in countries such as Norway where CPR training is mandatory in schools. The Foundation is calling for CPR and public access defibrillator (PAD) awareness to be taught in all secondary schools and a recent survey showed 82% of people would be behind this move.
Alex said:
“Cardiac arrest survival rates in the UK fall way behind survival rates in other countries where CPR training is part of the curriculum and we must do more to spread vital knowledge and awareness of what to do in such an emergency situation.
“By joining the Nation of Lifesavers, I want to see every child in the UK finish school equipped with the necessary skills to respond in a medical emergency. CPR is an important skill and just 30 minutes of training could save someone’s life.”
Simon Gillespie, BHF Chief Executive, said: “Too many lives are lost needlessly because people don’t have the basic CPR skills to act in life-threatening situations. We’re determined to radically improve the country’s shocking survival rates and mandatory training in secondary schools will go a long way towards that.”
