People can to learn to save a life in a shopping centre for Restart a Heart Day 2019.

Qualified nurses will be giving free CPR lessons in Bluewater today (Wednesday, October 16), in partnership with Kent Police, and A &A Training Limited.

Andy Le Grove demonstrates CPR

It's hoped as many people as possible will learn resuscitation in an attempt to boost cardiac arrest survival rates.

Andy Le Grove, who runs A &A Training Limited, has decided to offer his staff's services throughout the day.

The company, based on the Medway City Estate, teaches hospitals, university students and care facilities across the UK to use life-saving equipment.

Mr Le Grove hopes the free sessions will encourage people to feel confident to administer CPR and know when it is necessary.

The 47-year-old senior nurse said:"The survival chance for a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital is very low.

"In a study done in the Midlands, of 8,000 patients, only 2.75% of patients who had a cardiac arrest in the community survived after being discharged from hospital.

"In the UK, CPR is not taught regularly in schools, but it will be introduced next year.

"In places where it is taught, such as in America or Scandinavia the survival rate of cardiac arrests outside hospital is at a much higher 20%.

"In Britain people are very reserved and often will walk past someone who has collapsed and are too scared to react.

"People who can give CPR should always attempt to help, nothing you do will make the patient feel any worse."

Mr Le Grove has been nursing since 1993 and most of his time was spent on emergency wards.

He says he resuscitated around 200 people and wants to iron out any CPR misconceptions.

The Upper Halling resident said: "Every year people pick a song to match the beat of the compressions, this year it seems to be Baby Shark.

"But this isn't great because you don't know if people can sing it correctly or get a beat.

"It is best to download a metronome app and that will show you the timing.

"I've heard first aiders say you have to break a few bones to do the compressions correctly.

"If you're breaking ribs, you're doing it wrong, your hand is in the wrong place and the bones could dig into the organs and actually make the problem worse.

"The best method to get your hand in the correct position is to put it under the armpit and then slide it round to the sternum so your thumb points upwards to their chin."

If you would like to learn CPR, sessions will be ran today at A&A Training Ltd, Unit B Future Court, George Summers Close, in the Medway City Estate, Strood from 9am - 6pm.

Or head to Bluewater, in the Safety Store, on the upper floor next to Marks and Spencers. The team will be there from 9.15am - 8pm.

There is no need to book, simply drop in for a free 20 minute session.

For those who can't make today's sessions go to A&A Training's Facebook page for more tips and tutorials.

To keep up-to-date with all the latest developments with your local hospitals and other health stories, click here.

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