HUNDREDS of students at a Cradley Heath school have learnt vital life-saving skills advice as part of a national campaign.

Pupils at Ormiston Forge Academy were taught the importance of heart health and the basic skills needed to help someone survive when they took part in National Restart a Heart Day.

The students also learnt how to perform life-saving CPR should they come across someone collapsed, not breathing and potentially in cardiac arrest.

Dr Lisa Mason, head of the Academy, said: “With the support of a range of local medical services including Fast Aid, who were collated by the British Heart Foundation and the British Red Cross specifically for this event, we were able to train all of year 7 and significant numbers in other year groups.

“This is something we are keen to repeat next year and ensure that every student who attends Forge has this life-saving training.”

The event – which saw free training kits donated to the school, including 30 blow up dolls to practise with, mats for the learners’ knees and clinical wipes – was organised in conjunction with the Resuscitation Council (UK), the British Heart Foundation and St John Ambulance.

Simon Gillespie, chief executive at the British Heart Foundation, said: “CPR is the difference between life and death for thousands of people every year in the UK who suffer a cardiac arrest.

“Every second counts, and it simply isn't enough to hope that someone who knows CPR is present.

“We need everyone to learn this life-saving skill to give them the confidence to step in and give CPR when someone collapses after a cardiac arrest.”

There are more than 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests across the UK every year but less than one in ten people survive.