Schools across Northern Ireland are being urged to take part in a new initiative from the British Heart Foundation which will equip pupils with essential life-saving skills.
Classroom RevivR will allow young people aged 11-16 will learn the difference between cardiac arrest and heart attack, how to respond to an unconscious person and make an emergency call, how to use a defibrillator and how to perform CPR safely.
The charity has launched the free digital tool to coincide with Heart Month, encouraging pupils to be prepared in the event of an emergency, with 50 schools already successfully using the equipment.
Fearghal McKinney, Head of BHF Northern Ireland, said he hopes the launch of this tool will help save many lives.
“The launch of Classroom RevivR will set children up with an invaluable lifesaving skill at an early age. A cardiac arrest can affect anyone, at any time, so we want as many people to learn CPR as possible,” he said.
By equipping our young people today with these lifesaving skills, more lives could be saved in the future
“Of the 1,400 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that happen every year in Northern Ireland, less than one in ten people will survive,” he added.
“We are determined to change this by giving everyone the opportunity to learn CPR. By equipping our young people today with these lifesaving skills, more lives could be saved in the future.
“There is no need for an external trainer or lots of specialist equipment. All pupils need is a digital device and something to perform compressions on, like a cushion. It’s completely free to use.”
The scheme has the support of the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS).
“In the event of a cardiac arrest, every minute that passes without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chances of survival by 10%,” said And Michael Allen, NIAS Community Resuscitation Team Manager.
“Classroom RevivR can help equip young people with these life-saving skills in school and give their family, friends and wider community the chance to survive a sudden cardiac arrest.”