Michael Fabricant visited Netherstowe School in Lichfield on Friday 10th May to see students practicing their heartstart techniques on specialised dummies. “I am a keen advocate of all schools training their students in first aid and coronary pulmonary resuscitation – CPR. To restart a heart is a real life saver. I am delighted that Netherstowe is the first school in the area to engage in the heartstart programme and I hope other schools will now follow their excellent example” says Michael. “I was able to see students practicing on specialised dummies and one student practiced on me!” he added.

Netherstowe School, Lichfield, has been involved in this project since July 2012 and five members of staff and students from across all years will have been trained by the end of this academic year. Headteacher, Ruth Poppleton said, “As well as academic excellence, we believe that all students should be given as many opportunities as possible to learn essential life skills. The students really enjoy learning through the ‘Heartstart’ School’s Programme”.

Walsall Manor Hospital has played a key role in setting up the ‘Heartstart’ programme in schools across the West Midlands. The initiative teaches pupils simple skills that can help to save lives or what to do in a life- threatening emergency.

The programme includes learning skills such as, assessing an unconscious patient, performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), dealing with choking, serious bleeding, helping someone that maybe having a heart attack. Young people of ten years and over can attend a ‘Heartstart’ course. However, some emergency life saving skills like making a 999 call or placing someone in the recovery position can be learnt by much younger people.

The Resuscitation Council (UK) and the British Heart Foundation (BHF) have launched a National campaign to teach all children how to save a life and to get this vital information included as part of the national school curriculum. Knowing what to do in an emergency situation is important, if you can do CPR you can buy time needed for professional help to arrive and then save the life of your loved one. This emergency life saving course can be performed without any special medical knowledge and teachers can include in a range of different subjects including Personal, Social, Health and Economic Education (PSHE), and Science, Physical Education, and Citizenship.

Walsall Manor Hospital’s Resuscitation Officer, Phil Jevon, also works as a ‘Heartstart’ Training Supervisor and uses equipment and material donated by The British Heart Foundation, to assist schools in becoming affiliated to the ‘Heartstart’ School’s Programme.

Phil Jevon, Heartstart Training Supervisor explained: “To become affiliated to the ‘Heartstart’ School’s Programme, the school needs to have a suitably qualified training supervisor. My role as training supervisor is to provide ‘train the trainer’ sessions for the teachers, so that they can then teach the emergency life support skills to their pupils. I also provide advice and support should they have any queries or concerns and update their training as and when required.”

Photo shows Michael Fabricant being practised on by students at Netherstowe School and Phil Jevon, centre back row.