A Manchester Arena bombing victim’s mum has praised the efforts of BBC Radio Manchester after they launched the ‘Three Ways To Save A Life’ campaign last year.
The campaign, which saw BBC Radio Manchester partner up with St John Ambulance, was championed by multiple soap stars, marking the fifth anniversary of the Manchester Arena terror attack, which killed 22 adults and children in 2017.
Figen Murray, the mother of Martyn Hett, who died in the attack, said: “I’m thrilled to say that 16,120 people in Greater Manchester now have the skills to save a life.
“There’s a good chance in Manchester now, if something happens to you, where you do need someone with those skills, somebody now near you knows those skills and can save you.”
Actors including I’m A Celebrity winner Danny Miller, fellow former Emmerdale star Kris Mochrie, Hollyoaks actors Ashley Taylor Dawson and Sarah Jayne Dunn have all been involved in the campaign’s training, which sees volunteers learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), how to use a defibrillator, how to treat severe bleeding, and what to do when someone is choking.
Dr Lynn Thomas, Medical Director at St John Ambulance, said: “Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to learn these simple lifesaving skills, and to our volunteers and staff for their commitment to giving people the confidence to deal with health emergencies. Born from a tragedy, the legacy of this joint campaign with BBC Radio Manchester can only be positive with thousands more people understanding essential first aid.
“Our local team is committed to continuing to deliver free first aid demonstrations to at least 1,000 people every month and St Johns is exploring ways we can work with the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to make communities even safer and more resilient for generations to come.”
The campaign used a combination of public drop-in sessions, face-to-face sessions, virtual training online and on social media platforms resulting in 16,120 people being equipped with life saving techniques.
Kate Squire, the BBC’s Senior Head of Production for the North West and North East, said: “This has been a brilliant campaign that people living in Greater Manchester have really taken to their hearts.
“More than 16,000 of our residents now have the essential skills to save lives, not only in case a tragedy like this ever strikes our city again, but also to help those who are in need on their everyday lives.”
The BBC Radio Manchester campaign has now come to an end but free training will continue with St John Ambulance across Greater Manchester, details of this can be found at sja.org.uk.
