FIREFIGHTERS have been giving people in Possilpark a valuable life-saving lesson through CPR and de-fibrillator training.

Staff and tenants of NG Homes and other local residents took part in the training programme which was held at the Possilpoint Community Centre.

Every year around 3,500 people suffer an out of hospital cardiac arrest in Scotland – but only one in 20 of them will survive to return home. When someone goes into cardiac arrest their heart is not pumping and every second counts.

Performing immediate CPR can keep oxygen circulating around the body until medical professionals arrive and it only takes about half-an-hour to learn the technique.

Station Manager Scott Murray said: “Being able to perform emergency life support, needed to keep someone alive until professional help arrives, gives a casualty the best possible chance of survival. This training was a great opportunity for our staff to pass on vital skills that could make the difference between life and death.”

Gillian Halliday, the Link Up co-ordinator arranged for the training to take place, with some funding from Inspiring Scotland, said: “The training has been well received with great reviews and was an excellent example of the partnership working between Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, NG Homes and Link Up.

"We are very grateful to the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and their staff who organised and delivered this training. This was extremely well received and has equipped them with a vitally important life skill they can take away and use, should the need ever arise to provide assistance in an emergency”.

The training is part of an innovative partnership with the British Heart Foundation who has equipped all 356 of Scotland's fire stations with Call Push Rescue training kits, to give communities right across the country the opportunity to learn life-saving skills.

All Scottish Fire and Rescue Service fire stations now act as a base for local people to learn these vital skills and potentially save someone's life if they go into cardiac arrest.

Area Manager George McGrandles added: "Anyone can drop into one of our fire stations and learn CPR. We would welcome any members of the community to come in to our fire stations to learn CPR."

To find out more about how Scotland's emergency services and charities are joining together to save lives after cardiac arrest visit Save a Life for Scotland at www.savealife.scot