Dorset village receives CPR training

Thanks to volunteers from the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA), more than 50 Holt village residents recently received practical training in CPR and defibrillator usage.

All age ranges were catered for at the two training sessions held in Holt Village Hall. Topics included how to identify heart attacks, when and when not to use CPR, choking, and how to locate and use a defibrillator. There were also many opportunities to hone practical skills on the training dummies made available.

The point was made by the DSAA representatives that, when they attend a cardiac event, outcomes are usually enhanced if CPR skills have been used in advance of their arrival.

A villager said: “Before today, I would have been scared to use CPR for fear of injuring the individual concerned. I am now reassured. There would be nothing worse than being present and not trying to help. I would now not hesitate, as the session showed me in a very practical way what to do.”

The Holt community has now shown its big heart.