Newest recruits to heart nurse’s life-saving army

EX-CARDIAC NURSE HAS NOW TRAINED MORE THAN 5,000 PEOPLE IN CPR SKILLS

A CHARITY volunteer who has devoted 10 years to training members of the public in life-saving skills has now taught more than 5,000 people.

Retired cardiac nurse Alan Harrison-White, 57, lends his expertise to the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT), set up in memory of Rothley teenager Joe, who collapsed and died from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome in October 2012 while out jogging.

The charity’s fund-raisers, volunteers and medical leads work to increase the number of public-access defibrillators available across the city and county.

They also raise awareness of sudden heart deaths and ensure as many people as possible are trained in CPR and how to use a defibrillator.

Alan, from Mountsorrel, started doing CPR training for the charity in September 2013, working with

Rothley residents. Since then he has delivered training at hundreds of sports clubs, community venues and schools.

He said: “Because we do the training in groups, I can’t pinpoint exactly who the 5,000th person I trained was, but I know it will be someone from Gateway Sixth Form College, in Leicester, where I did some training recently.” Alan worked as a cardiac nurse for 25 years, 15 on the coronary care unit at Leicester General Hospital, and then in Leicester Royal Infirmary’s A&E department.

He said: “I chose to go into cardiac nursing as it was a field of nursing that interested me and was very much hands-on regarding patient care.

“I really enjoy teaching these skills to people, as one day they may help them to save a life.”

The chair of the JHMT, Steve Humphries, said: “This is a fantastic achievement and we’re so grateful to Alan for his commitment, dedication and determination over the past 10 years in getting the message out there – that sudden cardiac death isn’t inevitable, it’s preventable.

“Currently fewer than 10 per cent of people survive an out-ofhospital cardiac arrest in the UK, but with effective CPR and defibrillation within three to five minutes of collapse, survival rates can be as high as 50 to 70 per cent.

“Each and every one of us can all have a positive impact on the shocking statistics around sudden heart death.”

To find out more about the trust, including how to book a training session for your sports club or community group, visit the website below, or email:

Retired cardiac nurse Alan Harrison-White, 57, lends his expertise to the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust