Firefighters in Peterhead were sharing their lifesaving expertise with local residents yesterday.
As part of Restart a Heart Day, the team ran two public CPR training sessions at the station.
All of Scotland’s 365 fire stations are now equipped with manikins and DVDs to help train people, thanks to a donation by the British Heart Foundation.
Last night, Peterhead’s station manager Chay Ewing said: “Our innovative partnership with the British Heart Foundation has given our communities the opportunity to learn lifesaving skills.
“Our fire stations now act as a base for local people to learn these vital skills and potentially save someone’s life if they go into cardiac arrest.
“Anyone can drop into one of our fire stations and learn CPR. Alternatively, firefighters can take the kit and visit local schools or community groups and pass on their expertise.”
Yesterday’s two hour training sessions at Peterhead taught people how to deal with an unconscious person and how to recognise the signs of a heart attack and cardiac arrest.
Their CPR training, which included how to perform a chest compression and give rescue breaths, also dealt with choking and responding to any serious bleeding a person affected may be suffering.
Mr Ewing added: “The event here in Peterhead was organised to coincide with the national Restart a Heart Day and it’s good to see people engaging in the training and learning about how they can become life-savers.”
The British Heart Foundation supports over 3,800 CPR training schemes across the UK.
The charity suggests that any CPR should be carried out after someone has called 999 and a defibrillator has been asked for.
