THE resuscitation team from the RUH have been out on the roads this week teaching people of all ages how to save a life by resuscitation.

Their tour of the county marks European Restart a Heart day, national awareness campaign aiming to educate everyone in the basic but vital first aid technique, with a focus this year on giving young people the skills to save lives.

The team has run hands on demonstrations for school pupils, the public, new parents and staff at the RUH.

Rebecca Garrett, resuscitation and clinical skills trainer at the RUH said: “If you witness a cardiac arrest, it’s crucial to call 999 and start Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, immediately.

"Every second counts when someone has a cardiac arrest and if a bystander immediately performs CPR, this can improve the patient’s chances of survival.

“It’s been a fantastic week, everyone has shown a lot of interest in how they can be a lifesaver in the event of an emergency. I hope they will share the techniques they’ve learnt with their family and friends as widespread training in CPR is a really important factor in increasing survival rates."

If you want to teach yourself this vital skill, go to the NHS Choices or British Hearth Foundation website for more information and a step by step demonstration.