School’s out! But at London Ambulance Service the life-saving lessons never stop

Paramedics at London Ambulance Service have been teaching families how to save lives at London Zoo.

The hands-on sessions are part of the Service’s London Lifesavers scheme, which aims to give more people the skills and confidence to act if someone is in cardiac arrest.

With the zoo busy for the Easter holidays, paramedics demonstrated how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator. The short interactive sessions are designed for all ages.

Families first

Louie, age nine, was one of the first of the day to become a London Lifesaver.

Mum Michelle Alexander said: “Louie was really keen to learn. It’s so good for children to start becoming familiar with these skills because you never know what might happen.

“It’s particularly timely for us because I’ve just had a difficult diagnosis and learning these skills will give us all a bit more confidence.”

Feel more prepared

Symphony Joseph, who took part in the training with her son Elijah, said: “My dad is elderly so it’s great to learn these skills and know you could help in an emergency.

“I feel more prepared now.”

Pat Lamaison said: “I’ve learned so many great first aid skills. When you’ve got little ones at home, you worry all the time and this knowledge really helps to reduce the stress.”

Generation of lifesavers

The London Lifesavers Campaign aims to create a generation of lifesavers and offers free training to schools, organisations and communities.

Outside a hospital, fewer than one in 10 people survive a cardiac arrest, which happens when the heart stops pumping blood and oxygen around the body.

More than 75 per cent of cardiac arrests happen in the home.

Every second counts

Community Resuscitation Trainer Claire Bird said: “At London Ambulance Service we respond to thousands of people in cardiac arrest every year.

“Without help they will die. That’s why it’s so important that more people feel able to step in and start CPR or use a defibrillator in the few minutes before an ambulance arrives.

“By giving people the skills and confidence to act, we can help save more lives across London.

“Schools might be shut for the Easter holidays but our life-saving lessons never stop.”

Come along to our free training

Paramedics from London Ambulance Service will be running more pop-up training sessions throughout the Easter holidays. You can find a full list of events here and upcoming sessions include:

• London Transport Museum* – Today (2 April)
• Waterloo Rail Station – Tuesday 7 April
• London Zoo – Wednesday 8 April
• London Transport Museum – Thursday 9 April

London Lifesavers is funded through the London Ambulance Charity and you can find ways to support its work here.

*The pop sessions are free but normal admission charges apply at the museum and the zoo.