Tuesday 4th June 2013 – 3.10pm – Chris Kowalik.
A Hereford woman found herself putting her Heartstart skills into practice while out walking her dog.
Meryl Kemp received her Heartstart training in May 2011. In February 2013 Meryl was in Aylestone Park when a man collapsed. She called for help and started chest compressions.
She said: “When I first came across him he was blue and making a strange noise, but I couldn’t see or feel any signs of breathing. After several rounds of chest compressions his colour returned to normal and he came round. By then his wife arrived and an ambulance was on its way.”
Herefordshire Heartstart is a registered charity (no. 1082309), supported by West Midlands Ambulance Service. It offers full-day courses training people to become Heartstart instructors who in turn run free two-hour courses to anyone aged 10 or over in lifesaving techniques including CPR and dealing with choking, loss of consciousness or serious blood loss.
Meryl was taught by one of her own colleagues who had become a Heartstart instructor.
Dr. John Ballance, Chairman of Herefordshire Heartstart said: “This was a fantastic achievement, made possible through the teaching of Heartstart. The more people we can train, the more lives will be saved.”
For more information on Herefordshire Heartstart, to book a course or become a trainer, visit http://www.herefordshireheartstart.org or email info@herefordshireheartstart.co.uk or contact the Co-ordinator/project Manager Loraine Coleman on 0845 60 60 654.
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Note to Editors: For any further information, contact Loraine Coleman on the number above.