ABERDEEN City council is pushing ahead with plans to train all secondary pupils in life-saving CPR.

The local authority announced last week, that it would follow Glasgow City Council and back mandatory training in its secondary schools.

The Evening Times is campaigning for all Scottish local authorities to commit to the pledge, to create a nation of young life-savers.

Scotland lags behind the rest of the UK in CPR survival rates, with only one in 20 people surviving and Glasgow has the highest rate of cardiac arrest in Scotland.

In a statement, Aberdeen City Council said talks were progressing with tge British Heart Foundation (BHF) to support the roll-out and is also working with the Scottish Ambulance Service to look at the number of defibrillators in its schools.

The council has committed £5000 to progress the plans.

The BHF has pledged to supply every school in Scotland with a £1300 CPR kit, which includes a DVD and manikins.

Douglas Lumsden, Co-Leader of Aberdeen City Council and Convener of the City Growth and Resources Committee, said: “I left school having learned many things – but unfortunately how to save a life was not one of them. It is vital pupils are given the opportunity to be trained in CPR and I’m pleased we are in a position to act.

“The British Heart Foundation has made a very compelling case and the benefits of teaching CRP in Aberdeen’s schools are clear. We will work closely with the foundation and with the ambulance service to take the steps that have been identified.”

Our campaign - Scotland’s Got Heart - has been backed by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. Earlier this year, Renfrewshire MSP and Finance Secretary, Derek McKay urged Renfrewshire to back our campaign. Edinburgh, Falkirk and Angus councils have also expressed an interest in pursuing mandatory CPR lessons.

Stuart Callison, chief executive of St Andrew’s First Aid said: “As a charity whose aim is to create a nation of lifesavers, we very much welcome the successful outcome of this campaign and applaud Glasgow City Council for its commitment to see CPR taught in secondary schools.

“As Scotland’s only dedicated first aid charity, any forward step which will help improve the chances of someone surviving a cardiac arrest, is positively received.

“We want to see this commitment taken even further and are campaigning for the Scottish Government to support us in delivering wider first aid skills into primary schools."