Last updated at 15:06, Wednesday, 07 November 2012

FIREFIGHTERS who deliver community courses on how to save lives have been nominated for a Love Barrow Award.

• NOMINEE: Holly Logan
• NOMINEE: Vicky Smith
• NOMINEE: Richard “Dick” Pickerill
• NOMINEE: Monica Pugh
• NOMINEE: Sonjie Mary Marshall
• NOMINEE: Liam Conroy
• NOMINEE: Voce, Barrow's male vocal group
• NOMINEE: Ex-Barrow mayor John Murphy

LIFE SAVING SKILLS: The team which delivers Heartstart courses in the borough has been nominated for a Love Barrow award. Pictured, Paul Wight (left) shows Emma Preston and John Pearson-Gee (right) how to perform basic CPRHARRY ATKINSON REF: 50036579B003

Operational fire crews from Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service in Barrow have delivered more than 30 Heartstart courses since the project was launched in April.

The two-hour sessions cover how to deal with choking, a suspected heart attack and serious bleeding, plus how to deliver CPR and put casualties in the recovery position

Barrow fire station has around 40 trained Heartstart instructors, who have delivered training to local companies, community groups, schools and organisations.

They have been anonymously nominated for Community Project of the Year, sponsored by Turnstone HR Consultancy, in the Love Barrow Awards 2013.

The nominator said: “The skills being taught will in future no doubt save lives.

“The crews have been able to deliver this training to a variety of ages, from children as young as six to adults in their seventies.”

The Heartstart team gave training to the Barrow autism support group in May, and intend to provide more sessions to further enhance their skills.

Deborah Brownson, whose two sons have autism, is co-ordinator for the support group.

She said: “I liked the course format of video, talk through, then try myself – it really helped me learn the techniques.

“The length of the two hours was just right.

“It was delivered in a fun and proficient way and I was impressed it was free of charge.

“I left feeling much more confident in dealing with an emergency myself and feel I could now do what was needed before emergency services got to the scene, whereas before I would have just panicked.”

Jeanette Thonissen, who took the Heartstart course with Adult Social Care, said: “It was simple, easy to follow and reassured me about what to do.

“When faced with a real emergency, I might still have some uncertainties, but much less than previously.

“I think it would be good for everyone to do this as we move about the community and go in people’s houses.”

• To nominate your local hero(es), pick up a form from the Central and Hindpool Neighbourhood Management Team office in Dalton Road, or go to www.lovebarrowawards.co.uk.

First published at 16:11, Monday, 15 October 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk