Farmers and crofters urged to learn life-saving CPR technique

On behalf of Scotland’s farming and crofting families, most of whom live and work in isolated, rural parts, NFU Scotland has voiced its support for the Save a Life for Scotland initiative.

At the Royal Highland Show, taking place at Ingliston from 23 to 26 June, representatives from Save a Life for Scotland gave farmers, crofters and their families the opportunity to learn life-saving CPR techniques and obtain information about measures that those who live and work in the Scottish countryside can undertake to save someone’s life.

A new agricultural focus for the campaign was launched on Thursday 23 June at the Union’s Royal Highland Show stand.

This support continues NFU Scotland’s ongoing work surrounding farm safety, including the Grid Reference Card campaign it launched with Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance in 2014 and its awareness-raising efforts through Farm Safety Week, which this year takes place from 4 to 8 July.

Save a Life for Scotland aims to equip 500,000 people living in Scotland with the life-saving skill of CPR over the next five years. The hope is that in doing so, 1,000 more lives might be saved by people learning and being prepared to step up and perform CPR when required.

It's about learning the skill but also being prepared to say 'I'll do it'. It will be working with various agricultural and rural organisations in the coming year to hopefully save more lives.

Allan Bowie, NFU Scotland President, commented: “This is a fantastic initiative, that aims to save thousands of lives. We know farmers and crofters are in a more vulnerable position by often working in remote areas away from readily-available assistance, and we hope that by providing them with life-saving skills they can aid others if and when the need arises.

“We will be working to raise awareness of the campaign, and we would encourage as many people as possible to get involved.”

Lisa MacInnes, National Programme Manager for Save a Life for Scotland said: “Performing CPR really can help save someone's life. Everyone in Scotland, including farmers and crofters, has the power to save a life in their hands.

“Suffering a cardiac arrest is the commonest life-threatening medical emergency but of the 3,500 people living in Scotland who have resuscitation attempted each year, only about 1 in 20 survive.

“Lives are being lost because not enough people know how to perform CPR. But there’s no reason not to. Through the Save a Life for Scotland website people can find out where to go to learn CPR skills in their community.

Notes to Editors

• A photograph from the launch of the agricultural aspect of the campaign, involving NFU Scotland President Allan Bowie on NFU Scotland’s stand, is available by emailing media@nfus.org.uk.
• Save a Life for Scotland, a partnership of life-saving organisations, drives the Scottish Government’s strategy to save more lives through bystander CPR. The ambition is to equip an additional 500,000 people living in Scotland with CPR skills, and save an additional 1,000 lives, by 2020.  Visit http://www.savealife.scot/ for more information.

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Contact Ruth McClean on 0131 472 4108