Primary children given a lesson in lifesaving on school defibrillator

The next generation have been given a lifesaving lesson thanks to a Sunderland charity and one of its supporters.

St Mary’s RC Primary School hosted a visit by firefighter Chris Smith, who has raised funds for the Red Sky Foundation, and the charity’s leader Sergio Petrucci, who launched the fund with wife EmmaaftertheirdaughterLunawasbornwithheartdefects.

Thefoundationhasfunded a defibrillator for the school’s site, with its youngsters now clued up on what the kit is and how to use it and also shown how to do CPR thanks to training sessions led by the men.

Chris, 36, who is based at Sunderland Central Community Fire Station and lives in Ashbrooke, ran every day for 28 days to raise £2,000 for a defibrillator installed outside the Ivy House pub, and is continuingtosupportthecharity’s work to set up as many as possible.

The session was also deemed timely after the collapseofDenmarkplayerChristian Eriksen during the Euro 2020 tournament last month as he had a cardiac arrest.

Chris, whose son Cillian, two, will attend the school, said: “Being a firefighter, I’ve used a defibrillator on many occasionstosavelives,I’veseen first hand how incredible they

are.

"They drastically improve people’s chances and I really support the Red Sky Foundation’s ethos to get as many of them out there as possible.

"We wanted to raise awareness about getting more defibrillators

fitted and also give the pupils the confidence to use them.”

Among the parents to praise the pair was Lawrence Redmond, whose son Charlie followed a session.

Hesaid:“Ithoughtthiswas

great for the kids to learn such lifesaving skills.

"Thank you Sergio and the Red Sky Foundation for popping into St Mary’s and showing the kids the importance of CPR and how a to use a defib.”

Andrea Walls-Liddle

added: “As a parent, I was delighted to hear about the CPR education session being brought to my son’s primary school.

“I think sessions such as this are really important and The Red Sky Foundation were great at demonstrating practical skills to children in such an energising and engaging way.

“My son was eager to tell me what he’d learned as soon as I picked him up from school.”

Firefighter Chris Smith and Red Sky Foundation founder Sergio Petrucci during one of the first aid sessions at St Mary’s RC Primary School.

St Mary’s headteacher Martin Clephane and Sergio with the defibrillator on the outside of the school premises.

Chris and Sergio spent a day at the school, passing on lifesaving skills.