GLASGOW City Council was hailed by health leaders after last week agreeing to make life-saving CPR lessons mandatory in all its secondary schools, following pressure from the Evening Times.

As talks get under way to bring this plan to fruition, we are urging other Scottish councils to follow the city’s lead and create a nation of lifesavers.

British Heart Foundation Scotland has pledged to supply free training kits to EVERY secondary school in Scotland to ensure all pupils leave as life savers.

We contacted all 32 local authorities and so far, East Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire, Falkirk, Aberdeen City, Angus and Edinburgh councils have all expressed an interest in taking forward a similar plan.

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The First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said she “warmly welcomed” Glasgow’s decision and encouraged “everyone to take it up.”

Glasgow MSP Sandra White has also lodged a motion in parliament, backing up our campaign drive.

It reads: “The Parliament congratulates Glasgow City Council on its decision to introduce mandatory CPR lessons for all secondary school pupils. 

“If the remaining 31 local authorities in Scotland were to take this approach, there would be approximately 50,000 pupils trained in 
CPR each year, delivering a nation of lifesavers for Scotland.”

East Renfrewshire Council said some training was already in place in primary and secondary schools and added: “We would welcome the opportunity to work more closely with the British Heart Foundation to allow us to offer CPR training throughout all our schools.”

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Falkirk Council said: “We have seen the campaign mentioned in Glasgow and would certainly take a closer look at what is involved over the summer period.”

A spokeswoman for Aberdeen City Council said: “ACC staff are working to establish a baseline of what is already happening as many schools already offer CPR training. Once we receive the information, we can establish next steps.”

North Lanarkshire council said CPR training was, “fairly comprehensive” in its 23 secondary schools but could not guarantee that all pupils were reached.

South Ayrshire Council said a number of schools were offering training but said it was, “a matter for individual schools.”

Our national drive has received cross-party support from Anas Sarwar, Scottish Labour Shadow Health Spokesman and Conservative MSP Annie Wells.

David McColgan, Head of Policy for British Heart Foundation Scotland, said: “Glasgow City Council is leading the way, both in Scotland and across the UK, in the fight towards better cardiac arrest survival rates.

“Glasgow’s decision means that around 4500 school pupils will be trained in CPR each academic year, delivering a City of Lifesavers for years to come.

“However, if the remaining 31 local authorities in Scotland were to follow, we would see approximately 50,000 pupils trained each year, delivering a nation of lifesaversand establishing Scotland as a world leader in CPR.”