TWENTY-EIGHT people watched and listened last Saturday as Norman Trebilcock from FLEET demonstrated basic life skills using CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) at the Methodist Chapel, St Breward.

Norman is a wonderful speaker with a great sense of humour and helped everyone understand how important it is that CPR is started as soon as possible after a cardiac arrest: once you know how, anyone can save a life!

Having persuaded members of the audience to practice their skills on a manikin, he went on to explain that, while someone began CPR on the patient, an ambulance should be called and that ambulance control would release the lock on the cabinet containing the Community Defibrillator, located next to St Breward Stores, so that another person could bring the defibrillator to the patient.

The group learnt how to attach it to the patient and then to follow the automated instructions from the equipment though they were relieved to hear that ambulance control stays on the phone to give guidance the whole time until the arrival of a paramedic.

A selection of delicious soups with bread roll, followed by cakes and biscuits with tea or coffee were enjoyed by the attendees and donations of £44.41 were made towards funds.