THE Prime Minister has backed a campaign by Delyn’s MP to get a lifesaving skill put on the school curriculum in Wales.

In Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, March 24, Boris Johnson supported Conservative Rob Roberts’s mission to make CPR lessons compulsory in all Welsh secondary schools.

After meeting with the family and friends of Janene Maguire, who sadly passed away in February 2000 after having a cardiac arrest, Rob was glad to work with them to launch a national campaign calling for the teaching of CPR and other lifesaving skills in all Welsh secondary schools – just as it is in England and Scotland.

Calls have been made following the launch of this campaign, along with a letter backed by Welsh Conservatives from both Westminster and the Senedd, to the Welsh Education Minister to make the teaching of CPR compulsory in Wales,

Mr Roberts says that, now the Prime Minister has stated the urgency of this being adopted in Wales, he hopes the Welsh Government will take note of this important campaign that will provide young people with knowledge that can be used to save lives.

Rob said: “I am pleased that the Prime Minister supports the vital lifesaving skill of CPR being taught to school children in Wales.

“The Welsh Government now need to follow the precedent set by the UK Government so that families who experience cardiac arrests no longer have to suffer such tragic circumstances.”

After launching this campaign, Rob has been in contact with Welsh Hearts Charity, who have long campaigned on this issue, to try and spread the message and increase the levels of support.

Commenting on the campaign, Fundraising Director at Welsh Hearts Sharon Owen said: “Welsh Hearts believes that all schools in Wales should make CPR training mandatory for students – as more and more adolescents are becoming victims of Sudden Cardiac Arrest, especially during sporting events.

“Hundreds of lives could be saved in Wales each year if students were taught CPR from a young age, so CPR needs to be learnt universally to significantly improve survival rates and to avoid inequalities between communities by ensuring there are lifesavers on every street corner, in schools and every workplace.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “As part of the new curriculum, teachers will be able to focus on a wide range of Health and Well-being topics, including first aid and the curriculum’s statutory guidance already includes learners being ‘able to safely intervene to support others who may be at risk’

“We have worked closely with partners, including the British Heart Foundation, in developing guidance and will continue to work with experts in this field as we refine the curriculum going forward.”