WEST WORCESTERSHIRE MP Dame Harriett Baldwin has reinforced her support for a local initiative to increase the number of publicly-accessible defibrillators by joining a CPR and resuscitation course.
The MP was one of over 100 local people who attended a day of training at Malvern Theatre on February 14 to learn how to help a patient whose heart has stopped beating as well as use of a defibrillator.
The training was led by volunteers from Heartstart Malvern, a local charity that Dame Harriett has supported since it was founded in 2017.
Dame Harriett said: “Heartstart Malvern is such an important initiative helping to get many more defibrillators onto buildings across the area and training people how to do CPR, so a defibrillator has a better chance of saving people’s lives.
“I really enjoyed the session and I encourage as many people as possible to take advantage of the free training. Heartstart Malvern is an amazing local charity and I am fully supportive of the work that Richard Vakis-Lowe and his team do to help save lives.
“I’m planning to meet with the chief executive of the West Midlands Ambulance Service soon to see how these efforts can complement the work of the emergency responders and I am hopeful that this will lead to many more lives being saved.”
Heartstart Malvern founder Richard Vakis Lowe added: “This was a collaboration between my charity, Malvern Theatre and Malvern Hills District Council and I was grateful that councillors were joined by Dame Harriett to take part in this vital training.
“Dame Harriett has been a staunch supporter of our charity since its very beginning in 2017 and this event was a great springboard to getting many more people trained.
“Anyone who missed out can visit our website and get onto a free course at their convenience.”
