Heartstart UK, Schools Information

The Heartstart UK Schools Programme
 
Thank you for your interest in the British Heart Foundation’s Heartstart UK Schools Programme which provides an opportunity for children to learn simple emergency life support (ELS) skills.
Heartstart UK Schools Programme in Northern Ireland
 
Over 100 schools in Northern Ireland are now successfully implementing the Heartstart UK programme in both primary and post-primary schools. Most schools become aware of the programme through the Health Promoting Schools Initiative or perhaps from a school already affiliated to Heartstart UK . Any school with an interest can become involved.
 
In NEELB the following process is in place:
 
  • If, after reading the materials and discussing the programme with relevant school staff, you are interested in setting up an ELS programme in your school you will need to identify a teacher to co-ordinate the programme. This person should request a Heartstart UK schools manual by contacting Fran Wightman (contact details below).

  • Yvonne McKeown, Heartstart UK Regional Co-ordinator (Northern Ireland) will then contact the designated co-ordinator to discuss any issues regarding planning your programme.

  • Each school must have an external training supervisor to provide instructor training for the teachers/other staff who will be delivering the programme. Florence Hand, Community Emergency Life Support Co-ordinator within NHSSB has been fulfilling this role since 1996. Florence liaises closely with the NEELB Assistant Advisory Officer to facilitate the training, which is provided free of charge. The training is initially one full day, with updates of approximately three hours every one to two years.

  • On the initial training day, Yvonne will meet the designated programme co-ordinator to offer help and advice on any issues regarding affiliation to Heartstart UK . This includes giving guidance on how the programme can be delivered and how to apply for a grant for resuscitation training manikins/equipment.

  • The programme can be delivered within the school as soon as affiliation has been approved, teachers have been trained and equipment has been delivered.
 
What happens now?
 
If you wish to proceed with affiliation you will need to:
 
  • identify a teacher to co-ordinate the programme. This will be the person with whom the Heartstart UK office communicates. (Advice on this can be sought from either the Heartstart UK Co-ordinator or the Assistant Advisory Officer (contact details below).

  • this co-ordinator should now request a Heartstart UK schools manual by contacting Fran Wightman, Heartstart UK Officer and explaining that you have already received information about the programme. Yvonne will make contact with you to provide further guidance

  • Instructor training for teachers/other staff will be arranged and information about it will be sent to the school.

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