14th February 2020
The Southern Trust held its most recent HeartStart training on Valentine’s Day On the day known for celebrating hearts, participants learnt vital emergency life saving techniques.
The course, supported by the British Heart Foundation, includes recognising the signs and symptoms of a heart attack, how to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and how to deal with choking.
Christina Morris, HeartStart trainer for the Southern Trust explained: “This is a skill for life and a skill for saving life. During a cardiac arrest, the heart stops beating, blood flow stops and the person starts losing consciousness within seconds.
“Learning CPR makes you feel confident during an emergency situation as you have all the skills and knowledge required to perform the procedure. It can save your life, your children’s lives, your parents’ lives, or even a stranger’s life.”
Comments from HeartStart participants who completed the training said: “Thank you for a very beneficial course that has provided me with knowledge and tools to use. Hopefully I won’t ever need them” and “Facilitator excellent, all parts of the course relevant and appropriate.”
The next HeartStart training courses are Friday, June 12 in, Armagh and Tuesday, July 28 in Craigavon. For further information on HeartStart training please contact pwb.training@southerntrust.hscni.net