MORE than 30,000 people suffer cardiac arrests away from hospital every year, but if CPR is administered immediately, the patient’s chances of survival double.

Which is why the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, British Heart Foundation, Resuscitation Council and St John Ambulance launched a pioneering initiative to teach thousands of school pupils how to do CPR. Yesterday, for the first time, Restart a Heart Day was rolled out nationally to teach some 100,000 youngsters this vital skill.

It’s been described as the world’s biggest lifesaving lesson. And yet another Yorkshire first.