CHILDREN at Moorfield School in Ilkley have been taught how to perform live saving cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Hearts in Little Hands was set up by an enthusiastic and experienced team of doctors and nurses working in the Emergency Department at Airedale General Hospital. It aims at teaching preschool and school children of all ages, as well as their teachers and carers how to deliver first aid and CPR.

The session at Moorfield was led by nurses Samantha Cresswell, Stace Bentham and Amina Abu El Hawa.

Dr Annie Summers, a speciality doctor in Airedale’s ED said: “Sudden cardiac arrest (when the heart stops beating and the person collapses) can happen anywhere and to anybody. Sadly less than one in 10 people who have cardiac arrest out of hospital survive. This is disappointingly low when compared with other countries, considering we have one of the best health care services in the world!

“Survival seems to be better in countries where there is greater public engagement and education. The emphasis of training takes into account the age and skills of the child and recognising that all children are capable of learning these skills at any stage, through observation, repetition and opportunities to practice. The hope is that with time they would build confidence in becoming bystanders who would be happy to intervene if they were to witness someone collapsing. By the time emergency services arrive the chances of survival are virtually zero.

“After taking part in the European Restart a Heart Day last year and engaging All Saints preschool, we have generated great interest by many local schools and youth groups. Last week we were invited by Moorfield school and received a very warm welcome from reception year pupils and their teacher Nicola Minshall. They learnt how to keep their hearts healthy, how to call for help, how to place someone in the recovery position and the principles of starting chest compressions and CPR.”

Dr Summers believes teaching children first aid and CPR should become part of the compulsory health education curriculum.

She added: “There are numerous cases of children reacting appropriately when faced with someone who is collapsed and have saved their lives, either through knowing how to call for help, administer first aid or start CPR. Rapid response within three to four minutes can certainly make a difference between life and death!

“Our political leaders have a role in this and a consultation by the Department of Education is currently under way to make this a reality by 2020. The European Resuscitation council started this campaign in 2013 and year-upon-year Restart a Heart Day set in October has seen more and more children being taught CPR across the UK.

“In partnership with British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross, St John Ambulance service and all of UK ambulance services, independent providers and volunteers there were over 195 000 children who were taught life-saving skills last year in one single day. This year the event is even bigger. On October 16 it is going to be global and named World Restart a Heart Day, as it is estimated that sudden cardiac arrest leads to death in more than three million people every year.

“Hearts in Little Hands will continue to be involved in this campaign and we hope to raise more interest and awareness amongst schools and youth organisations.”

Photos by Amina Abu El Hawa.