Monday 16th January 2012
Bolton South East MP Yasmin Qureshi visited her local British Heart Foundation (BHF) shop on Friday to show their support for the charity’s campaign for Emergency Life Support (ELS) skills to be taught in schools.
Working with Resuscitation Council UK, the BHF is calling for all school pupils to be taught the skills which could help save a life in an emergency situation. ELS skills include cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) – which can help save the life of someone who is in cardiac arrest – how to deal with an unconscious person, serious bleeding, choking and recognising the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.
Yasmin said:
“Making ELS part of our children’s education would put hundreds of thousands of new lifesavers on the streets every year. I’m urging everyone in Bolton to pop into their local BHF shop, or go online, to sign the petition.”
According to a BHF survey 40% of kids in the South East feel powerless to help someone who has collapsed in the street despite more than two-thirds (67%) wanting to be able to help. The survey also revealed overwhelming support from parents. Three quarters (75%) of parents in the South East also believe ELS should be taught at school.
The BHF’s Heartstart scheme has already trained 2.9 million people across the UK in ELS skills and now wants every pupil leaving school to have the ability to save a life. Find out more at bhf.org.uk/lifesaving.