Church Offers First Aid Training to Empower Community

Pedair Afon Ministry Area recently trialled a project which saw 35 individuals from two of the MA’s most deprived areas receive potentially life-saving training. 100% of participants reported an increased level of confidence to perform CPR and use a defibrillator following the training session.

This is particularly significant because people from lower socio-economic backgrounds are less likely to receive bystander CPR, have access to a defibrillator, and ultimately survive a cardiac arrest. The course was delivered free of charge by Rev’d Geraint John who volunteers as a Welsh Ambulance Service Community First Responder and is a qualified Basic Life Support Instructor. Most participants made a small donation to cover the costs of training materials and consumables but this was not a requirement.

Rev'd Geraint says, 'This is a really important initiative which can help the local church to engage with, and play an active role in building resilient communities.

Research has shown that, when a cardiac arrest happens, there is a significant increase in survival rates when CPR is started promptly and a defibrillator arrives on scene quickly. With 80% of cardiac arrests happening at home, those who learn CPR could potentially save the life of a loved one or neighbour.

First aid training is an act of love in action—caring for our neighbour as Christ commanded."