The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Hundreds of school children learn how to save a life
Some 500 pupils taught CPR as part of Save a Life for Scotland campaign
Hundreds of school pupils in Brechin have been given the power to save life.
Five-hundred pupils from P7 to S6 learned CPR yesterday at Brechin Community Campus from emergency care professionals as part of the Save a Life for Scotland campaign.
The campaign aims to equip half a million people living in Scotland to be able to carry out the procedure by 2020.
Only around one in 20 people will survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest but the survival rate could be doubled with the early intervention of CPR.
Throughout the day trainers were on hand to train teachers, staff, leisure centre staff and centre users, community groups and members of the public.
Deputy head teacher Ally Mills said: “The save a life day is an excellent example of us working with others to deliver a fantastic learning experience for almost all of our young people.
“They have enjoyed their day and have now learned an invaluable life skill.”
National programme manager for Save a Life for Scotland, Lisa MacInnes, said: “The simple message of the campaign is that everybody in Scotland has got the power to save lives in their own hands.
“Our partners are here today because we are determined that we are going to get all of Scotland to know that CPR is the right thing to do and be prepared to step up and say ‘I’ll do it’ if the worst came to the worst and somebody collapsed.”
Qualified first aid trainers from Angus Council, Angus Alive, Scottish Fire and Rescue, St Andrews First Aid, the British Red Cross, Perth and Kinross Council and the Scottish Ambulance Service were on hand to give training.
Scottish Fire and Rescue Service group manager Roy Dunsire said: “When someone goes into cardiac arrest, every second counts – and that is why we actively promote and encourage people to learn CPR.
“All 356 of our fire stations across Scotland now act as a base where the public can drop-in and learn these vital skills – completely free of charge.
“I would encourage anyone who wants to learn this skill to contact their local station to arrange a suitable time.”
The event will be rolled out across all Angus secondary schools through 2017 and 2018.
The save a life day is an excellent example of us working with others to deliver a fantastic learning experience for almost all of our young people.
ALLY MILLS