HEREFORDSHIRE Heartstart recently held its annual training event for volunteers.

This year they welcomed their Patron, Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant, The Dowager Countess of Darnley.

Over half of their volunteers were able to attend and enjoy an interesting day of learning and discussion.

Volunteers were given the opportunity to update their familiarity with the Heartstart Course by: recognising new elements to the training DVD; improving their knowledge and understanding of cardiac arrests including the role of the defibrillator (or AED); and evaluating new training resources available to us as a charity that might improve the quality of CPR training we deliver.

Since the charity started in 1996 we have trained or retrained over 24,000 people local to Herefordshire.

Herefordshire Heartstart run courses throughout Herefordshire all year round. Our public courses our free, last two hours and equip you with the knowledge that empowers you to be able to do something that could lead to the saving of a life.

Herefordshire Heartstart also work in local schools. They currently have 55 schools in Herefordshire where school staff have been trained by Herefordshire Heartstart to deliver emergency life support skills to their pupils as part of the curriculum. These staff receive training on a regular basis to ensure the quality delivered in schools is of the highest calibre.

Recently, a volunteer recruitment drive has led to an increase in volunteer numbers. Thanks to the people of Hereford and the Waitrose Community Matters Scheme they have been able to purchase additional resources, enabling them to deliver more courses to the people of Herefordshire. Fundraising is an important part of the work to ensure that they can continue the delivery of free public courses to the people of Herefordshire.

Further information about attending courses, becoming a volunteer or organising a course for your community organisation, business, charity or school can be found at website herefordshireheartstart.co.uk. Alternatively contact the charity coordinator on info@herefordshireheartstart.co.uk or call 0845 6060654.