Volunteers are being encouraged to come forward to support new lifesaving projects in Martley and Tenbury Wells.
The Heartstart project aims to increase survival rates from cardiac arrest by providing free cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillator training to local communities and schools, as well as increasing the number of defibrillators available locally.
The project is funded by Malvern Hills District Council and is run in collaboration with Community Action Malvern and District.
It is one of five new Heartstart schemes planned for the Malvern Hills district over the next 12 months.
The new Heartstart Kempsey scheme was launched earlier this summer and has already trained over 50 residents in essential life-saving skills. When asked, 100 per cent of people who have been trained said they would recommend the training for other people.
As part of the project, defibrillators have been handed out to up to nine parish and town councils across the Malvern Hills District.
The survival rate of cardiac arrest in Worcestershire is less than ten per cent. If more people had the confidence to perform CPR and access to a defibrillator, survival rates could be as high as 70 per cent.
With 80 per cent of cardiac arrests happening at home, it is vital that people know how to perform CPR and can access a defibrillator quickly.
Volunteer trainers do not need medical or training experience, as full training will be provided.
Trainers will be asked to support around one 90-minute training session a month and complete a DBS check. Giving just 90 minutes of your time each month could help save a life.
Cllr Jennie Watkins, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Housing at Malvern Hills District Council, said: “Malvern Hills District Council is proud to support the development of five new community resuscitation schemes across the district. By increasing access to CPR and defibrillator training, we can help equip more people with the knowledge and confidence to respond in an emergency, giving residents a better chance of survival before professional help arrives. We are particularly grateful to the volunteers who will give their time to deliver this training and help create safer, more resilient communities across the district.”
Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer trainer should contact Richard Vakis-Lowe at
Visit www.heartstartmalvern.org.uk/ for more information.
Pictured: Richard Vakis-Lowe, Founder of Heartstart Malvern, with councillors from parish and town councils across the Malvern Hills District who received the defibs.