PUPILS of a school on Anglesey are learning vital lifesaving skills that will benefit them for years to come.

CPR1, The ‘CPR Training in Schools’ project, is currently being held at Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern.

Organised by the Postgraduate Medical Education Centre at Ysbyty Gwynedd in partnership with the Resuscitation Department and volunteer foundation doctors, the sessions teach the children how and when to perform CPR.

It also teaches them the importance of using the recovery position and helps familiarise them with defibrillators. The Resuscitation Department oversees the training methodology to ensure this is pitched at the correct level for the children’s age.

Mrs Ros Jones, junior doctors programme co-ordinator at Ysbyty Gwynedd’s postgraduate centre, said: "The British Heart Foundation’s website quotes approximately 60,000 cardiac arrests per year in the UK.

"Not everybody has the knowledge to start CPR and by the time the emergency services have arrived it may be too late.

"The ‘CPR Training in Schools’ project aims to teach, and instil confidence in our children, to deliver CPR."

The sessions are currently part of a pilot project which the team hope will be rolled out to other schools in Anglesey and Gwynedd in the future.

One of the pupils who took part in the sessions, Alisha Sutherland-Quarless said: “I found the session interesting because we got to try out new stuff.

"I learned what to do when you see someone unwell on the floor. It was fun learning how to do CPR and practising on the dummies!”

Elena Campbell, progress leader at Ysgol Bodedern added: "The pupils reacted very well, it was great seeing them develop confidence in CPR and leaving the session with the ability to help others.

"I think the pupils are very lucky to have had the opportunity to participate in the ‘CPR in Schools’ project and I hope other schools will have the opportunity to gain an important life skill too.

"I’d like to say a huge thanks to the Postgraduate Team at Ysbyty Gwynedd and also the Resuscitation Department who have organised the sessions."