Justin Hosts Parliamentary Event To Build A Nation Of Lifesavers

Local MP, Patron of the Swindon British Heart Foundation and Vice Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Heart Group, Justin Tomlinson, is urging people to join the campaign to dramatically increase the number of people trained in life-saving CPR and help create a Nation of Lifesavers.

More than 30,000 people suffer an out of hospital cardiac arrest in the UK every year – 80% of which occur in the home, often in front of family members and loved ones. But fewer than one in ten people survive, partly because not enough people have the skills and confidence to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

The British Heart Foundation says that the Nation of Lifesavers initiative could save around 5,000 additional lives a year in the UK, based on survival rates in countries like Norway, where CPR training is mandatory in schools. 

The BHF is calling for CPR and public access defibrillator (PAD) awareness to be taught in all secondary schools and a recent survey showed 82% of people would be behind this move. The innovative training programme enables schools, workplaces, and community groups to become completely self-sufficient in teaching the three simple steps that could save a life: Call. Push. Rescue. The campaign was launched in Parliament at an event hosted by Justin.

Justin was joined at the launch by Samantha Hobbs, who at 14 helped to save her mum’s life by performing CPR. With her dad, they kept her mum alive until the emergency services arrived and could get her heart beating again with a single electric shock from a defibrillator. Samantha had been trained in CPR so she knew what to do. Now she’s campaigning to raise awareness amongst others so that more people are trained and more lives can be saved.

Justin Tomlinson MP said: "Cardiac arrest survival rates in the UK fall way behind survival rates in other countries where CPR training is part of the curriculum. By joining the Nation of Lifesavers I want to see every child in the UK finish school equipped with the necessary skills to respond in a medical emergency. CPR is an important skill and just 30 minutes of training could save someone’s life. That is why I have actively campaigned for the inclusion of emergency lifesaving skills in the curriculum and will continue to do so!"

Samantha Hobbs said: "I was only able to help save my mum’s life because I’d been trained in CPR. I don’t know what might have happened if I hadn’t. We’re really pleased to be able to support the BHF’s Nation of Lifesavers campaign and spread the message about the importance of CPR. I hope more lives are saved."

Simon Gillespie, BHF Chief Executive, said: "Too many lives are lost needlessly because people don’t have the basic CPR skills to act in life-threatening situations. We’re determined to radically improve the country’s shocking survival rates and mandatory training in secondary schools will go a long way towards that. We need every school, workplace, community group and individual to join the Nation of Lifesavers and help make the UK a safer place to live."