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500,000 trained in CPR skills in four years |
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More than half a million people in Scotland have been trained in resuscitation skills following a drive to improve help for heart attack victims.
The Save a Life For Scotland campaign, which brings together emergency services, charities and the Scottish Government, was launched in 2015 with the aim of increasing the number of bystanders prepared to step in to help by carrying out CPR.
It has now reached the target of training an extra 500,000 people a year ahead of schedule.
The number of people surviving a cardiac arrest to be discharged from hospital has also increased over that time, from around one in 20 to one in 12.
The Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) responds to around 3,500 people who are having a heart attack outwith a hospital every year – and prompt CPR from bystanders can triple the chances of survival.
Dr Jim Ward, medical director of SAS thanked the “huge numbers” of members of the public for coming forward to be trained.
He added: “Fast action is critical to save the life of a person in cardiac arrest, and without prompt CPR the chances of surviving cardiac arrest are very low.
“Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is a significant healthcare challenge in Scotland.”
Lisa MacInnes, director of the Save a Life for Scotland campaign, said the target had seemed a “long way off” when it was launched in 2015.
She said: “However, with the hard work and dedication of the fantastic Save a Life for Scotland partnership we have surpassed this milestone over a year ahead of schedule and we're keeping on counting aiming to reach as many people as we can.”
Public Health Minister Joe FitzPatrick said: “It’s fantastic news that our aim to equip an additional 500,000 people with CPR skills has been reached ahead of schedule.
“Starting CPR immediately after the heart stops beating can double, and sometimes triple the chances of survival.
“This joint campaign with public and voluntary services is an excellent example of how we can all work together to improve a person’s chance of survival.
“I would encourage everyone to learn CPR because any CPR beats no CPR.”
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