CHILDREN across York and North Yorkshire have received a lifesaving lesson.

Started in Yorkshire, Restart a Heart Day has become the world’s biggest life saving lesson. This year it saw children at schools including York High School, Archbishop Holgate’s School, Fulford School, Malton School, Selby College, Selby High School, Sherburn High School and Tadcaster Grammar School, learn how to use CPR to save the life of someone in cardiac arrest.

The event was run by Yorkshire Ambulance Service, British Heart Foundation, the Resuscitation Council (UK) and St John Ambulance.

Over 30,000 people suffer cardiac arrests outside of hospital in the UK every year. If CPR begins immediately, the patient’s chances of survival double.

Sara Askew, of British Heart Foundation, said: “Less than one in ten people survive an out of hospital cardiac arrest...we need more people with the skills and confidence to perform CPR. “

Last year Fulford School pupil Alex Cowes, 15, had his life saved by teachers who had gone through the training.