Heart skills for First Minister

10:26am Friday 12th October 2007

A Cardigan Paramedic will tonight teach Wales' First Minister Rhodri Morgan some vital skills that could possibly help him save a life in the future.

Peter Barker, a founder member of the Cardigan Branch of the British Heart Foundation, has for many years run a number of community schemes to teach the vital skills of emergency life support. Having realised from his days working with the Welsh Ambulance Service, that getting as many people in the community trained in vital emergency lifesaving skills could, one day, lead to lives being saved.

Peter Barker said: "I'm delighted that First Minister Rhodri Morgan has agreed to visit one of our community emergency lifesaving training sessions at Cardigan Leisure Centre."

Life-threatening emergencies are common. Coronary heart disease (CHD) in particular, is one of this country's biggest killers. Every two minutes a person has a heart attack, and in 30% of cases the casualty dies before he or she reaches hospital, due to cardiac arrest. So being equipped with skills that could help save a life is indeed a valuable asset. We hope that many more people will follow the First Minister's steps and sign up to one of the free lifesaving sessions that are arranged in the area.

The First Minister Rt Hon Rhodri Morgan AM said: "I know from my own heart scare over the summer how vital quick treatment is. Having people in the community who have been trained to be able to respond in an emergency situation, where quick treatment is essential, can only help save lives and I'm pleased to be here in Cardigan this evening to learn those skills for myself."

The sessions are run as affiliated schemes to Heartstart UK is an initiative co-ordinated by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to teach members of the public what to do in a life threatening emergency - simple skills that save lives. The scheme aims to facilitate and support emergency life support training in the community and in schools. There are currently over 100 affiliated schemes in Wales and during 2005-06 the BHF invested over £22,000 in these schemes. To learn more about how to train for lifesaving skills in the Cardigan area contact Peter Barker on 07727 006275.

For information on setting up or joining a Heartstart UK schemes in other areas of Wales phone Victoria Jeffries 0121 357 2057