Pupils at South Farnham School paused their usual classes to learn life-saving skills for World Restart a Heart Day on Friday, October 16.

Mrs Cook Year 6 class got to learn from Farnham Lions Heart leaders Jo Michaelides, Sally Nelson, and Jill Channing.

The class were taken through an interactive workshop, including video, demonstration and even a chance to give it a go.

Mrs Cook said: “ The kids will be talking about it all day. They had so much fun, and a big thank you goes out to the volunteers; we could not be more grateful.

Jill, Jo and Sally the volunteers teaching CPR at South Farnham School
Jill, Jo and Sally the volunteers teaching CPR at South Farnham School (Marcus McQuilton)

The volunteers have been coming to St Peters School for more than 10 years and have been coming to South Farnham School for 8 years, but this is the first year they're teaching on World Restart A Heart Day.

Jo Michaelides said: “ I think the earlier we teach people how to do CPR and the recovery position, these important life-saving skills, the more it goes in and it gets embedded as they go throughout their lives.

“And the thing that we notice about children is they become confident and competent really quickly, and sometimes they step in where maybe an adult might have a bit of inhibition, and they'll think, oh, somebody showed me what to do at school, I can do that.”

Student giving CPR to a dummy to the music of Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees
Pupil giving CPR to a dummy to the music of Stayin' Alive by the Bee Gees (Marcus McQuilton)

One pupil said: “ My favourite part was shouting at my friend to see if he was responsive and then putting him in the recovery position as he played dead. It was very funny and I have learnt a lot.”

The initiative is led by Resuscitation Council UK and Farnham Lions have organised free Heartstart course for adults at The Ball and Wicket Pub on Wednesday Evening to book a class head to www.heartstartfarnhamlions.co.uk