When a Heart Stops, Do You Know What to Do? These Students Do

Learning Lifesaving Skills at Callywith College

Students at Callywith College in Bodmin spent International Restart a Heart Day 2025 learning how to perform CPR, thanks to a visit from Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.

The Trust’s Resuscitation Team spent the day with year one and year two students, showing them how to carry out CPR and how to use public access defibrillation equipment. Restart a Heart Day takes place each year to raise awareness of cardiac arrest and the importance of learning CPR.

Why the Training Matters

Senior resuscitation officer Kate Hawkins said:

“The Resuscitation Team were delighted to support Restart a Heart Day 2025.

“This year we decided to focus our training on the younger age groups. We want to promote awareness that sudden cardiac arrest also effects younger age groups. Every minute counts.

“Kate and Helen taught 60 students between the ages of 16 and 18 at Callywith College. Only a handful had previously had any CPR training.

“It was great to see the enthusiasm from the students. They really got involved. They took advantage of the chance to have some hands-on practice. We are working together to build lifesaving communities. We also want to increase out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survival rates.”

A Valuable Experience for Students

Course lead and lecturer for health and social care Lucy Osborn said:

“The training gave students valuable and practical experience. It also gave them a greater understanding of how to respond in emergency situations. We are very grateful to Kate and Helen for sharing their expertise and supporting our students in developing these vital skills.”