Youngsters have been learning vital life-saving skills as part of a Gravesham Youth Council project to install a public access defibrillator in Gravesend town centre.

Thirteen young people, including members of the youth council committee, received training in CPR and the use of defib machines from Gravesham Life Saving Club during the summer holidays.

A second course is being arranged as the first was oversubscribed.

The youth council is working with Gravesham Life Saving club to fundraise for a public access defibrillator machine to be installed in the town, with a view to fund more in the future.

The initiative has been praised by Gravesham council’s Cabinet Member for Community and Leisure, Cllr Shane Mochrie-Cox, who said: “According to the Resuscitation Council UK, for every minute that someone is in cardiac arrest without receiving CPR and having a defibrillator used on them, their chance of survival decreases by 10%.

“Gravesham Youth Council’s recognition of this along with its efforts to increase the number of public access defibrillators in the town and make sure young people know how to use them will, without a doubt, save lives in the future.

“In general, the focus can all too often be on the very few young people who become involved in anti-social behaviour or crime. This can draw attention away from the fact that the vast majority young people nationally and certainly in Gravesham are law-abiding and honest.

“The uptake for this course has shown just how prepared local young people are to give up their time to develop their skills and take on responsibilities so that they will be equipped to help others in an emergency situation.

“They are a credit to us all and we should be proud of them.”

If you would like to get involved or would like more information on Gravesham Youth Council, visit here.

For details about Gravesham Life Saving Club, visit www.glsc.org.uk/

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