Children from local primary schools have been learning vital lifesaving skills with help from Lancaster University.
Pupils from Ellel St John’s Primary, Willow Lane Community Primary and Cathedral Primary School in Lancaster, Kirkland and Catterall St Helen’s Primary in Churchtown and Garstang Community Primary were taught basic life support by staff and students from the university's Medical School.
Medical students and GP tutors Dr Debbie Clift, Dr Lee Hudson and Dr Pippa Eccles either visited the schools or invited the children onto campus with the help of Lancaster University Students’ Union.
The medical students worked in small groups with the support of GP tutors to prepare presentations on three topics; diet and exercise, drugs and alcohol and the heart and CPR.
"The session was fantastic," said Gemma Lewis, Year 6 teacher from Willow Lane Community Primary School.
"The practical activities - learning CPR, learning the functions of the heart through movement and doing exercise to find heart rates - were thoroughly enjoyed by our children.”
Cerys Wilson, Year 2 Medical Student at Lancaster University, said: “It was lovely to see the children have fun and engaging whilst learning about important topics such as drugs, smoking and alcohol. Seeing a difference in their knowledge from the beginning to the end of a short teaching session was very rewarding.”
Dr Clift said: “Cardiovascular Health is an important public health priority locally and in the North West. The goal was to give lifestyle advice to encourage young people and their families to adopt healthy lifestyle habits while orientating our students to the importance of health promotion and disease prevention.”
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