PRESS RELEASE
Young Heartstart Lifesavers save choking friend
It was no ordinary day for children at Bredenbury Primary School, when young Gedas Vaiciulis choked on his sandwich.
The children had been eating, laughing and talking (not a good combination for anyone eating), when 10 year old Gedas started to choke on a toasted sandwich.
Gedas said “A hard piece that I couldn’t chew got stuck in my throat, I started coughing and I couldn’t breathe. My friends went straight into action.”
“Archie went straight to the teacher and came straight back and got my drink, whilst Jake was doing Heartstart on me. I spat some out, but the rest was cleared out by the water, by the time my teacher came, I was alright.”
Luckily for Gedas the children had been taught Heartstart how to save life skills in their school.
11 year old Jake Webb did back blows, whilst 10 year old Archie Aldridge went to get help.
Jake stood behind Gedas and gave him back blows, thankfully the piece of food came out after the 10th back blow.
Jake said “he was fine, just a bit shocked!”
Loraine Coleman, Co-ordinator/Project Manager for Herefordshire Heartstart said-
“Well done to Archie and Jake for remembering your Heartstart skills, staying calm, correctly doing back blows and for going to get help. It must have been very frightening for Gedas to be choking and not to be able to breathe. Your skills helped to save your friend’s life and you should be very proud of your achievements.”
“If anyone doubted the benefit of children learning saving skills in their skill, this example should shine through as to why everyone should learn these basic skills.”
As well as two hour community Heartstart Courses, Herefordshire Heartstart also supports Schools in the area. Staff attend a full day’s instructor training with the Schools Training Supervisor Loraine Coleman and are then able to deliver the Heartstart skills to their pupils.
The Schools programme involves the use of a dvd called Ordinary Day, lesson plans and training manikins, with teachers explaining and demonstrating the various skills to the pupils. The children are also given activity sheets and hand-outs to help them to remember the skills.
Even children in reception can learn the basic skills of making a 999 call and learn their own address and phone number.
The staged, age related Heartstart Schools programme can be delivered to primary and secondary aged children. By the age of 10 they can learn the complete Heartstart course.
The Heartstart courses include:- how to deal with a conscious casualty, an unconscious casualty and how to put someone into the recovery position; how to recognise signs and symptoms of a heart attack; how to deal with choking, serious bleeding and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Simple skills that can and do save lives.
To find out details of free courses in Herefordshire or if you can help by making a donation or by organising a fundraising event visit www.herefordshireheartstart.org or contact:-
Loraine Coleman, Co-ordinator and Schools Project Manager/Training Supervisor on 01432 850067 or 0845 60 60 654 or email info@herefordshireheartstart.co.uk or you can write to Herefordshire Heartstart, PO Box 305, HEREFORD HR1 9JD
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Notes to Editor:- Herefordshire Heartstart run public courses and courses for groups, schools and businesses throughout Herefordshire.
Herefordshire Heartstart are a voluntary organisation and registered charity no 1082309. We receive no government or British Heart Foundation funding and rely on small grants, fundraising and donations to keep this vital service running.
Contact details:-
Loraine Coleman
Co-ordinator/Project Manager
Herefordshire Heartstart
Email: info@herefordshireheartstart.org
Tel: 01432 850067 or 0845 60 60 654
www.herefordshireheartstart.org
Twitter:- @HeartStart_HFD
Facebook:- Herefordshire Heartstart
12/4/15 14.00pm
Herefordshire Heartstart Registered Charity No 1082309
Patron The Countess of Darnley JP. Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Herefordshire