SOUTH East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) is inviting schools and community groups to get involved in a world-wide initiative to learn how to save a life.

Schools and groups, aged year six and above, are invited to register their interest in the annual World Restart a Heart Day CPR awareness campaign.

As part of the Resuscitation Council-run campaign, SECAmb staff and volunteers will be visiting schools and community groups to demonstrate to youngsters how to carry our basic CPR.

The visits will take place during the week of October 15 to 21.

SECAmb took part in the initiative for the first time in 2016.

Last year staff and volunteers trained more than 16,500 children and some adults in CPR throughout the week-long initiative.

SECAmb is also inviting trained healthcare professionals to make contact with its organisers if they are interested in helping deliver the training.

More than 30,000 people suffer cardiac arrests outside of hospital in the UK every year. If this happens in front of a bystander, who starts CPR immediately before the arrival of the ambulance, the patient’s chances of survival double.

SECAmb Investing in Volunteers lead Emma Ray said: “We were delighted with the success of our involvement in Restart a Heart for the last two years we’re hoping to continue to build on that success this year.”

Anyone interested in getting involved should email [email protected] or contact their local Community First Responder group before June 4.