Learning lifesaving skills on the promenade

A group of 30 veterans learned vital lifesaving skills in the sunshine on Fleetwood promenade.

Members of the Fylde Coast Veterans took part in a Lancashire Lifesavers course, providing them CPR and defibrillator training.

The course is delivered by Lancashire Adult Learning on behalf of BBC Radio Lancashire, Lancashire County Council and the North West Ambulance Service, all campaigning to train as many people as possible in life-saving skills.

Craig Harrison, Lecturer in Health and Wellbeing for Lancashire Adult Learning, ran the event. He said: “The group meets every Monday for a walk, chat and cuppa, so it was the perfect opportunity for me to join them and deliver the training out in the sunshine.

“It is my role to explain to people the difference between a cardiac arrest and a heart attack and give them the knowledge and confidence to step in and help someone in need.

“I also explain to them how to access and use a public defibrillator should they need one. Having such information can make such a difference when dealing with an emergency; CPR increases a person’s chance of survival by 10% and a defibrillator by 75%.

“The Fylde Coast Veterans were a great, engaged audiences who were fully on board with learning such vital skills and it was good to see people face-to-face rather than via a computer.

Rick Clement who runs the Veterans group for Fleetwood Town Community Trust, said: “We’re really grateful to Craig and the wider Lancashire Lifesavers for providing this free training.

“While nobody wants to think of themselves in this situation, we each felt equipped with information needed to deal with it confidently should it arise. Ultimately we could each help save someone’s life.”

For more information on how you can get involved, visit: Course Detail | LAL – Lancashire Adult Learning