YOUNGSTERS from around the town came to Oakhurst Primary School to learn vital first aid skills.

The launch event run by Draycott Sports Camp taught students aged three to eleven how to perform CPR with the use of training dummies.

Mark Draycott, owner of the sports camp, was impressed by the level of enthusiasm at the school. He said: “The most pleasing thing was that they understood the serious issues behind the fun, they were asking all the right questions.

“We want to get children exposed to this as soon as possible, which will mean you’ll have a long-lasting legacy of adults who are able to deal with emergency situations.”

Draycott Sports Camp aims to get involved with schools across the area to ensure children have regular first aid training as they grow up. By the time they leave school, the camp hopes students will have received nine or ten sessions to give them the confidence to deal with life-threatening injuries.

Mark added: “It’s something we want to put far and wide into the community and the response has been incredible. Everyone managed to get their certificate. Children are like sponges and it’s amazing they’re performing these moves.”

His camp will train year six students of Oakhurst Primary School next term. Head teacher Lizzie Christopher said: “It’s an essential skill for them to learn. Nobody knows what they’re going to come across so it’s a great opportunity for them. We want to keep it refreshed each year in the case of an emergency.”

North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson lost his father to a heart attack when he was young. He has been a passionate advocate of first aid training during his time in office.

Mr Tomlinson told the Adver: “Aged just 14 I found my father after a heart attack so I know only too well the importance of both emergency life-saving skills and simply having the confidence to make a difference, it can and does save lives.

“I am full of admiration for Draycott Sports Camp for helping to equip their young members with essential life-saving skills. This is vital with over 30,000 cardiac arrests outside of a hospital every year.”

Mark Draycott is hoping English footballer Fabrice Muamba will give a talk about his near-fatal collapse in 2012. The retired Bolton Wanderers player came close to dying after suffering a cardiac arrest during an FA Cup football match. Mr Muamba has since raised the profile of medical staff in sport and their life-saving skills in CPR.

Mark Draycott said: “Luckily I haven’t had to use CPR myself but you hear these stories of situations where lives can be saved with basic knowledge. Every sports leader has a responsibility to take some paediatric training. Anything can happen at any time in terms of collisions.”