Baldock-based Safety and Health visited the North Herts Police Cadets at Letchworth Police Station yesterday to mark Restart a Heart Day.
The health and safety consultants taught the cadets basic first aid, how to safely administer CPR and how to use public access defibrillators.
Safety and Health Ltd also hosted a drop-in session at Baldock Community Centre during the day with the aim of encouraging people to learn how to save a life.
The firm’s Francesca Harris, who led the cadets’ first aid training, said: “We are really please to have taken part in Restart a Heart Day alongside the North Herts Police Cadets.
“It was a pleasure to teach such enthusiastic and conscientious young people the skills to help save a life if they were to unfortunately witness a cardiac arrest.
“Bystander CPR is so vitally important in increasing someone’s chance of survival when the heart suddenly stops, so the more people who learn these simple skills, and are willing to have a go at helping, the better.
“I hope the cadets all go on to follow their dreams of becoming police officers.”
After practicing their newly-learned CPR skills on plastic dummies, the group of around 20 young cadets were able to see how public access defibrillators work, and have a go at using them.
The potentially life-saving equipment is now available for public use in most towns across North Herts to be used when someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest.
The defibrillator delivers an electrical current through the chest, which aims to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm.
Cadet leader Declan O’Flanagan said: “We try to make sure that being a part of the cadets is not like school and give as many scenarios as possible.
“Restart a Heart Day is perfect – we are around people all the time and it’s the one skill you can use absolutely anywhere.
“This not only teaches them the skills, but gives them the confidence to use this equipment and to get involved – because you could save someone’s life.
“That’s the thing about the police cadets – no longer can you not get involved, as it’s our civic duty to act.”
Anyone who wishes to learn CPR can book a Safety and Health life support first aid course at its training centre by calling 01462 892021.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here