Two Essex schools take part in Restart a Heart campaign to teach children CPR and how to use a defibrillator
Orsett Primary School and Bulphan Academy took part
Two Essex schools have taken part in Resuscitation Council UK's Restart a Heart campaign, following livestream instructions on how to do CPR and use a defibrillator.
Children practiced with everyday items, like coats, teddies and rucksacks.
A goal of the campaign is to increase children's confidence with CPR, so they can potentially assist in saving a life.
James Dickson, Headteacher of both schools involved, said:
"It is a life saving skill. It is really important to enable these children to have those skills and that knowledge, and to be able to pass it on to someone else.
"It is something that we can offer the children, and give them that real life skill in a fun way. They actually adored it, doing CPR to S Club 7."
He said that you "never know" when you will need to use these skills:
"It is really important to raise children's awareness in a safe and comfortable way, that they enjoyed, without it being upsetting or harrowing.
"I think it is such an amazing thing to do."
He also said that the livestream, used for helping the children to learn, was "really engaging" and that "the children were interested."
"I think what came across to us was just doing something to make a difference.
"It wasn't about doing it perfectly. It was about starting the compressions and keeping it up whilst people went for help.
"It was about being brave, and doing it because you are going to do a wonderful thing.
"For children, those situations are scary, and if you aren't skilled in what you're doing, you're going to pull back and be afraid.
"There is that hope this can be put into practice, and give that confidence to do it."
Esther Kuku, Director of Communications and Engagement at Resuscitation Council UK, said:
"Every year Resuscitation Council UK runs our Restart a Heart campaign throughout October and it is aimed at ensuring that everyone, every year, has the skills that they need to save a life.
"We particularly focus on schools because we know that children are awesome at sharing messages.
"So if you tell them something, it will stick with them and they will then share it with their parents."
She said that the teaching aims to help students "understand the difference between first aid and then life saving intervention."
"CPR skills are very simple and easy to learn, and it helps give them the knowledge and confidence."
She also said that it teaches that "defibrillators are for everyone to use."
"It is really safe. They might not be able to use it, but they can certainly talk their responsible adult through how to use it."
"It is also about helping children to know they can teach somebody how to save a life if they need to."
She said that resources were available on theirwebsitefor schools to get involved.