Sir Gavin Williamson attended the Featherstone and District Community First Responders’ Summer Spectacular, where he took part in a mass CPR session.
Sir Gavin visited the Summer Spectacular fête, which aims to raise money for Featherstone and District Community First Responders and Featherstone Parents & Toddlers. During the event, he participated in a group cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) session and learned how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) alongside other members of the community.
An estimated 100,000 people die annually from cardiac arrest, and 60,000 cases happen outside of hospital. Without defibrillation, the chances of survival decrease by 10% with each minute. If a victim does not receive CPR or defibrillation within ten minutes, they stand no chance of survival.
The Featherstone and District Community First Responders are trained volunteers who provide immediate assistance to patients in rural areas where it takes time for an ambulance to reach.
Sir Gavin said: “It was fantastic to attend the Summer Spectacular and to learn such an important skill. Cardiac arrest is one of the nation’s biggest killers and knowing how to deliver CPR is vital in raising survival rates. I applaud the Featherstone and District Community First Responders for their perseverance in educating the community and saving lives.”
