AROUND 50,000 pupils in Scotland should now be taught life-saving CPR every year after a pressure campaign by British Heart Foundation Scotland that was backed by the Evening Times.

International experts and emergency medicine leaders believe the roll-out of training to pupils in all 32 local authorities, announced today, will save thousands of additional lives every year.

In Scotland, just one in 20 people will survive an out of hospital cardiac arrest, compared to 1 in 10 across the rest of the UK.

The Evening Times took action after learning that Glasgow has the highest rate because of the link between poverty and health.Patients are also less likely to survive because research shows CPR awareness is lower in cities with a high deprivation quota.

After a pressure drive by us, Glasgow agreed to become the first city in the UK to roll-out heart resuscitation training.

Read more: Dad whose heart stopped beating for 25 minutes re-united with life-saving football ref

We then got behind the charity’s Scotland-wide drive and today Moray, Falkirk and Fife Councils pledged to join the 29 other local authorities already signed up - meaning every single council in Scotland has committed to work with the nation’s heart charity to deliver the programme.

Glasgow Times:

David McColgan, Senior Policy and Public Affairs Manager, at BHF Scotland, was involved in details discussions with local authorities the length and breadth of Scotland.

He said: “Far too many lives are lost in this country when people suffer a cardiac arrest out of hospital, partly because too few bystanders have the expertise or confidence to perform CPR. Training youngsters in school is key in helping to change this.

“Media partners are vital in these sorts of health campaigns.

“We launched our campaign before May, 2018 but the Evening Times was hugely important in getting us in front of Glasgow City Council to have these important discussions.

Read more: Glasgow to become first UK city to train all pupils in CPR 

“I don’t doubt for one second, that the Evening Times in deciding to take on this campaign, giving it column inches, giving it front pages and covering every single local authority announcement, made a massive difference.

“With the paper’s support the campaign really gathered momentum.”

In countries where CPR is more widely taught, survival rates as high as 1 in 4 have been reported and Denmark tripled the number of lives saved after mandatory lessons were introduced.

For every minute without CPR, the chances of surviving drop by up to ten per cent.

Glasgow Times:

In Glasgow, over 2017 and 2018. 780 primary pupils and 2250 secondary pupils were trained in the first aid skill with almost 7000 trained, so far, from 2018 - 2019.

David McArthur, head teacher of Lochend Community High School in Easterhouse, is in the process of rolling out training to all first and second year pupils.

He said: “My school is in the highest deprivation area in Scotland. I

“Pupils see things here, unfortunately that a lot of kids won’t see and for those kids to be able to have the ability and the understanding to know what to do in those situations, is incredible.

“I think it’s very important that children learn life skills and it’s more likley that these skills (CPR) will be used here.”

Councillor Chris Cunningham, Convener of Education, Skills & Early Years for Glasgow City Council, said: “Glasgow schools have for many years offered a range of CPR and first aid training to pupils from P6 upwards, as part of BHF’s Heartstart programme and delivered by our teachers.

Glasgow Times:

“We were delighted last year to take this partnership to another level and work with BHF Scotland and the Evening Times ‘Glasgow’s Got a Heart’ campaign to ensure that secondary pupils, at an appropriate stage in the curriculum, all receive CPR training.

“It’s great news that other local authorities have taken Glasgow’s lead.”

Councillor Jim Paterson, Depute Council Leader and Convener of Education and Children’s Services Committee, Renfrewshire Council described the campaign success as a “monumental achievement.”

Dr Andy Lockey, Vice President of the Resuscitation Council UK, said the campaign will reap “huge dividends” in health.

Read more: For more of today's top Glasgow stories click here 

He said:”To put it simply – this could result in thousands of Scottish lives being saved. I firmly believe that this approach will be used in the future as a global exemplar for excellent practice.”

TV presenter Lorraine Kelly also supported the campaign and recorded a special BHF Scotland video, encouraging councils to join.

She said: “Huge congratulations to each and every one of Scotland’s 32 local councils for signing up to the British Heart Foundation’s Nation of Lifesavers campaign.

“It’s a fantastic achievement that will undoubtedly save lives. “