‘CPR SKILLS ARE A LIFESAVER’ COMMITTEE TOLD

The importance of life saving skills such as CPR (cardiac pulmonary resuscitation) was highlighted today as members of the Assembly Health Committee took part in British Heart Foundation training.

The event, which took place in the Long Gallery, included an emergency life skills (ELS) training session with MLAs and a discussion on the part that schools and local community groups play in providing life saving skills.

Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of the Health Committee, Mrs Iris Robinson MP, MLA said, “Skills such as CPR play a vital role in saving lives and ensuring that people come safely through life threatening episodes. The wider availability of, for example, defibrillators have the potential to significantly improve outcomes for those suffering heart attacks.

“The Health Committee, and indeed all MLAs, have a role to play in drawing attention to the importance of both training and early identification of risk factors.

“We are very pleased to welcome the British Heart Foundation to Parliament Buildings to highlight this vital service and to provide practical, hands on instruction. This type of preventative service needs to be properly resourced and integrated into training programmes for organisations as diverse as schools and community groups.”

ENDS

Notes to Editor:

Committee Membership:
Mrs Iris Robinson MP (DUP) (Chairperson); Ms Michelle O’Neill (SF) (Deputy Chairperson); Mr Thomas Buchanan (DUP); Dr Kieran Deeny (IHC); Mr Alex Easton (DUP); Mr Tommy Gallagher (SDLP); Mr Sam Gardiner (UUP); Mrs Carmel Hanna (SDLP); Mr John McCallister (UUP); Ms Claire McGill (SF); Ms Sue Ramsey (SF)

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