SEVEN thousand schoolchildren from across Lancashire have received lifesaving skills training on Restart a Heart Day.

Delivered in partnership with the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and Lancashire Adult Learning (LAL), the training, which was given via Zoom, saw children aged four to 16 taking part in a First Aid Flash Mob event.

During the session, youngsters learned what situations require a 999 call, the difference between a cardiac arrest and a heart attack, what to do and who to call in an emergency situation, how to effectively administer CPR, and how to access a defibrillator should one be required.

Curriculum leader for health and wellbeing at LAL, Sarah Haworth, said: “Restart a Heart Day was an absolute triumph and the engagement of the schoolchildren on such a scale was brilliant to see.

“The number of attendees was incredible and way beyond our initial expectations when we launched the event.

“I think it shows just how valuable and sought after first aid skills are, and how our method of delivery is accessible to all.”

On the eve of Restart a Heart Day, a Zoom event for adult learners was also held, with more than 100 participants learning similar life-saving skills and techniques and gaining access to a range of useful resources.

Ms Haworth added: “Both the sessions for adult learners and the children highlight the fact that these are basic skills that can be learned by people of all ages, and our thanks go to our partners at North West Ambulance Service for their support in making Restart a Heart Day such an enormous success.

“It has been a great example of adult community learning working in partnership with public sector services to support national campaigns.”

The partnership between LAL and NWAS will continue this month with the launch of new free Lancashire Lifesavers courses that can be booked via the LAL website.

Hundreds of people from across the Red Rose county have already benefited from training on these sessions previously, and the partnership is aiming to create hundreds more.

Clitheroe Pendle Primary School teacher Claire Atkinson said: “It was such a great idea."