Weston police recruit volunteers for life-saving duties

Police in Weston-super-Mare have been teaching life-saving skills to volunteers in the resort.

Officers from Avon and Somerset's Operational Training Unit taught CPR skills to seven groups.

They were Voluntary Action North Somerset, Preanes Green Resident's Association, Views into Action, Black and Ethnic Minority Forum, Holly Hedge Animal Sanctuary, For All Healthy Living Centre and Multicultural Friendship Association.

PC David Saunders and PC Rory Gunter delivered the session under the British Heart Foundation's Heart-start initiative.

Heartstart UK aims teach members of the public what to do in a life-threatening emergency and the simple skills that can save lives.

The most important factor determining survival after a cardiac arrest is the time from collapse of the casualty to defibrillation.

Performing CPR buys time and more than doubles the chances of survival.

Temporary inspector Mike King said: "Heartstart UK is an initiative to teach members of the public what to do in a life-threatening emergency, in essence learning simple skills that save lives. The session taught basic lifesaving heart massage, which is a valuable skill for anyone to have.

"The more people that can undertake CPR in the local area, the more the whole Weston community can benefit."

More than 1.4 million people have been trained through the Heartstart UK initiative.

For further information aboutr the programme contact temporary inspector Mike King on 08454 567000.