CPR plan gets to heart of issue
AT the beginning of every New Year we wish all our family, friends and acquaintances a happy and healthy life in the next 12 months. This is what we want for everyone in the country but sadly it does not happen for some people.
A number of them will become ill and, during the year, there will be around 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests across the UK, and sadly, at the present time, less than one in 10 will survive.
Having looked at the improved survival rates across the world in countries where cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is taught in schools, Education Secretary Damian Hinds has confirmed plans to add life-saving first aid skills to the school curriculum in England.
This will mean all young people locally will be taught, by the time they leave secondary school, how to administer CPR, how to use a defibrillator and basic first aid treatments for common injuries. In those countries who already teach CPR, survival rates are more than double those of the UK.
For most of us with no training it is lack of confidence and fear which stops us stepping in to help someone in trouble and yet we have all seen how prompt intervention brings miraculous results.
Former Premier League footballer, Fabrice Muamba, then aged 23, collapsed with a cardiac arrest while playing in a cup tie for Bolton Wanderers.
Every minute lost before applying CPR decreases the chances of recovery by 10 per cent.
He was lucky, there were a number of medically trained personnel on hand who started CPR almost immediately and then they used a defibrillator, not just once, but 15 times.
His heart stopped for 78 minutes but the continuous application of CPR and the 15 300-joule electric shocks kept blood flowing and thankfully he made a full recovery. David Ginola is another highprofile former footballer saved by CPR and unfortunately there are many other examples of fit young people suffering a sudden cardiac arrest.
Heart attacks also happen in an instant. Former England footballer Glenn Hoddle was saved after he collapsed with a heart attack moments after he had appeared on TV and Simon Spencer, a Derbyshire county councillor, recovered because he was given CPR after suffering a heart attack in his office in Matlock.
Of course, as in every emergency, the first course of action is to call 999 but this training means, in the future, everyone will have the skills to potentially save a life.
The proposals are due to be rolled out in 2020 and they are part of the Department of Education’s plans to strengthen the teaching of health, sex and relationships education.
Having campaigned and spoken to so many pupils who want these skills, I am delighted this is to be introduced.
Every minute lost before applying CPR decreases the chances of recovery by 10 per cent.
Heather Wheeler
■■The views and opinions of guest columnists do not necessarily represent those of either the Burton Mail or its staff