Life-saving initiative aims to get Arran ResusReady

The initiative hopes to create a ResusReady network of individuals and organisations who are CPR trained and defibrillator-aware so that they can provide assistance in an emergency situation should it take place within the community.

Anyone, at any age and anywhere, can be affected by a sudden cardiac arrest and an alarming 80 per cent of them happen in the home. There are more than 100,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in the UK. Of those treated by ambulance personnel (over 34,000), fewer than one in 10 people survive. Becoming ResusReady means that you can have the vital skills required to take immediate action and you could help to save a life.

To join the network of ResusReady individuals, you can register at Resuscitation Council UK’s website at www.resus.org.uk/about-us/get-involved/resusready Those who have already completed CPR training in the last 12 months can also sign up.

Arran ResusReady will be providing CPR classes on the island and free online training is also available at lifesaver.org.uk/

The Arran ResusReady initiative is part of a wider nationwide initiative which aims to create a nation of ResusReady lifesavers. ResusReady was developed by Resuscitation Council UK in partnership with Save a Life For Scotland and is open to anyone, including individuals, organisations, community hubs, faith and community groups and retailers.

Fiona Laing of ResusReady told the Banner: "The Arran ResusReady project is hoping to increase the number of people on Arran who are ready and willing to do CPR when someone has a cardiac arrest.

“CPR is the most basic lifesaving skill anyone can have and takes as little as 10 minutes to learn. You can learn via online videos or you can contact Arran ResusReady and organise a free in-person training session for your business or organisation, or get some friends together and learn with them."

Further information about ResusReady can be found at www.resus.org.uk/about-us/get-involved/resusready and local information, and details on how to arrange face-to-face CPR training on Arran, can be obtained by emailing arranresusready@gmail.com