Scots learning life-saving CPR with five-minute workshop

Staff and students from the University of Dundee’s School of Health Sciences and School of Medicine joined forces with the emergency services to provide the training.

Scots learning life-saving CPR with free five-minute workshop

Members of the public from across Fife and Tayside were encouraged to give five minutes of their time today to learn life-saving CPR.

The free sessions took place in the Mercat Shopping Centre in Kirkcaldy and the Overgate Shopping Centre and University Students’ Association in Dundee. 

Staff and students from the University of Dundee’s School of Health Sciences and School of Medicine joined forces with the emergency services to provide the workshops.

Dr Kevin Stirling, from Dundee’s School of Health Sciences, said, “The principle of Restart a Heart Day is to teach colleagues and members of the public how to deliver high-quality chest compressions.

“The ability to save a life is one of the most valuable skills a person can learn. Performing CPR while awaiting professional medical help can increase the chances of a person’s survival dramatically.

“In just five minutes we can empower a person with the skills and confidence to save a life. There can surely be no better use of time than that.”

Donald McPhail, from the Scottish Ambulance Service told STV News: “Every year the Scottish Ambulance Service attends about 3,200 cardiac arrests and about one in ten of those currently survive, but if we can get the public to arrive earlier than we can and do some chest compressions. We are hopeful that would increase the number of survivors.”

The events were part of the Save a Life for Scotland campaign which aims to get the public confident in delivering CPR.

Lisa MacInnes, Director of Save a Life for Scotland, said, “Equipping people with life-saving CPR skills helps people to feel ready should they ever need to assist someone suffering a cardiac arrest. These fantastic events offer a real opportunity for local people to learn CPR and how to use a defibrillator.

“We know that upon recognising that someone is unwell, phoning 999 and starting CPR is the most important thing anyone can do for someone suffering an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Our aim is to equip one million people with CPR skills by 2026 to help more people survive cardiac arrest.

“Events like these are essential to our journey to helping everyone in Scotland be CPR ready.”

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