'It’s a skill you hope you never have to use'

Students at a school in Chatham have joined thousands of pupils learning CPR

Thousands of people across the South East are being taught crucial life-saving skills as part of the annual Restart A Heart Day.

Staff at the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey and Sussex (KSS) are aiming to beat last year's target of training 17,000 people in the life-saving technique known as Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

Around 80% of cardiac arrests happen to people while they are at home, according to the Resuscitation Council UK, so they are likely to be with a friend or family member at the time.

Allan McHenry, clinical director at the air ambulance, said CPR can be taught in 20 minutes: "It’s one of the skills you hope you never have to use, but if you do it’s great you’ve had the opportunity to practice it."

Mr McHenry, who is a trained paramedic, taught over 100 sixth formers at Holcombe Grammar School, in Chatham, on Wednesday morning.

He said: “In 20 minutes you can teach someone how to save a life by using a defibrillator and compression only CPR."

Holcombe Grammar pupil Peniel Duah now feels like a lifesaver after the short course

Air ambulance crews were invited at an assembly at Holcombe Grammar where they explained to pupils the importance of quickly calling for medical help and how to help someone suffering a cardiac arrest.

Student were then given training in groups on how to use a defibrillator and perform CPR on dolls.

KSS volunteer Steve Harley saved his father's life with CPR

Peniel Duah, a sixth form pupils, said he felt like a "lifesaver" after taking the training.

He said: “I am ecstatic. I really think that it is a good life skill for me to have.

"Knowing CPR can really impact someone’s life and hopefully save them.”

The pupils were given a talk by KSS volunteer Steve Harley whose father suffered a cardiac arrest while walking his dog.

Steve performed CPR to keep him alive until paramedics were able to take over and was keen to encourage everyone to learn these essential skills.

He said: “It's a skill for life. You may never use it, or you may never want to use it.

"But just having that knowledge if it happens to anyone you know - a loved one or a bystander - you have that chance to potentially make a difference and save a life.”

Treated immediately

Special online web streams from KSS headquarters, at Rochester Airport, have also taken place throughout the day aimed to provide training for young people.

Restart a Heart Day is an annual initiative led by Resuscitation Council UK which aims to increase the number of people surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by helping more people learn CPR.

A cardiac arrest is when your heart suddenly stops pumping blood around your body.

The lack of blood flow to the brain and other organs can cause a person to lose consciousness, become disabled or die if not treated immediately.