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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/feb/10/junior-doctors-free-cpr-lessons-strike-manchester
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| Junior doctors offer free CPR lessons during strike | Junior doctors offer free CPR lessons during strike |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| About 50 junior doctors have taken advantage of strike action to offer the public free life-saving CPR lessons. | About 50 junior doctors have taken advantage of strike action to offer the public free life-saving CPR lessons. |
| While others held banners to protest against reforms on NHS working conditions, several teams decided to teach their skills as health workers. | While others held banners to protest against reforms on NHS working conditions, several teams decided to teach their skills as health workers. |
| The sessions were held in Didsbury and Levenshulme on Wednesday morning. Hundreds of parents and their children were expected throughout the day to learn CPR, performed on mannequins with instructions from the striking staff. | The sessions were held in Didsbury and Levenshulme on Wednesday morning. Hundreds of parents and their children were expected throughout the day to learn CPR, performed on mannequins with instructions from the striking staff. |
| Related: Should I learn how to do CPR? | Related: Should I learn how to do CPR? |
| Bernadette Lomas, a 34-year-old Manchester Royal infirmary junior doctor, organised the initiative, saying she wanted to raise awareness of Wednesday’s walkout while giving people more confidence to take steps that could help save others’ lives. | Bernadette Lomas, a 34-year-old Manchester Royal infirmary junior doctor, organised the initiative, saying she wanted to raise awareness of Wednesday’s walkout while giving people more confidence to take steps that could help save others’ lives. |
| Lomas said: “The primary aim was to give something positive back into our community, using our skills and knowledge to benefit those around us, in the knowledge that some of the public would be experiencing disruption and inconvenience due to the strikes. We also wanted to provide junior doctors with a positive outlet for the day, affirming that they have life-saving abilities which can be easily passed on in the community. | Lomas said: “The primary aim was to give something positive back into our community, using our skills and knowledge to benefit those around us, in the knowledge that some of the public would be experiencing disruption and inconvenience due to the strikes. We also wanted to provide junior doctors with a positive outlet for the day, affirming that they have life-saving abilities which can be easily passed on in the community. |
| “It has given doctors a very valuable face-to-face interaction with the public outside of the hospital setting, which in my opinion talking to those around me has benefited everyone. It’s good for people to see that we are normal, with everyday stresses of life, families, children, and it’s good for doctors to see that people appreciate them and their skills.” | “It has given doctors a very valuable face-to-face interaction with the public outside of the hospital setting, which in my opinion talking to those around me has benefited everyone. It’s good for people to see that we are normal, with everyday stresses of life, families, children, and it’s good for doctors to see that people appreciate them and their skills.” |
| The event is the fourth session that has been held. They have all coincided with strike days and have been held in a variety of venues. | The event is the fourth session that has been held. They have all coincided with strike days and have been held in a variety of venues. |
| Related: Junior doctors' strike: how have you been affected? | |
| Lomas said: “Every person coming to learn has been overwhelmingly positive about what we are offering. As they are free and babies and children are welcomed it’s been particularly well received by new parents and those with older children. Most first aid courses attract a fee and don’t allow children older than babes in arms.” | Lomas said: “Every person coming to learn has been overwhelmingly positive about what we are offering. As they are free and babies and children are welcomed it’s been particularly well received by new parents and those with older children. Most first aid courses attract a fee and don’t allow children older than babes in arms.” |
| At the session in the Home cafe, Didsbury, staff nurse Ashley Bass, 33, said: “It is really important for the public to learn life-saving skills, and events like this are essential because they teach people the basics. It is also a really positive way for doctors to be able to spend strike day sharing their knowledge and teaching people in the community for free.” | At the session in the Home cafe, Didsbury, staff nurse Ashley Bass, 33, said: “It is really important for the public to learn life-saving skills, and events like this are essential because they teach people the basics. It is also a really positive way for doctors to be able to spend strike day sharing their knowledge and teaching people in the community for free.” |
| Heather Brown, 36, attended the session with her 15-week-old daughter, Maisie. She said: “Before this session I was not sure what to do in a situation where someone started choking, but now I feel like I could deal with it and I feel a lot more confident. It is absolutely fantastic that the doctors are doing this. There are as many doctors here as mothers and babies and it is great to be able to get some expert advice about CPR and choking as well as being able to try things out on the dummies.” | Heather Brown, 36, attended the session with her 15-week-old daughter, Maisie. She said: “Before this session I was not sure what to do in a situation where someone started choking, but now I feel like I could deal with it and I feel a lot more confident. It is absolutely fantastic that the doctors are doing this. There are as many doctors here as mothers and babies and it is great to be able to get some expert advice about CPR and choking as well as being able to try things out on the dummies.” |