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CPR taught by nurses in schools after teacher's death

James GrantNorthamptonshire
News imageKCH A woman, with long blonde hair, tied back, wearing a black top and cream trousers, leaning over a dummy trying out resuscitation skills. There is another woman wearing and grey top to the right and other people standing around, but you can only see their legs. They are in a school room with a double door to the left. KCH
Parklands Primary School principal Carmilla Richards has practised resuscitation

A nurse has launched a volunteer-led programme teaching lifesaving skills in schools after the sudden death of her schoolteacher friend.

The initiative, believed to be the first of its kind nationally, was started after a primary school teacher and mother of three died from cardiac arrest in 2024.

Staff from Kettering and Northampton general hospitals are offering free basic life support training to primary school teachers, including CPR, defibrillator use and emergency response techniques.

Samantha Rawson, a Kettering-based pleural nurse specialist and one of the project's founders, said she wanted to turn her grief into a positive.

News imageKCH Four people in a room, they are all kneeling. A woman, dressed as a nurse in a dark top and trousers, with her hands out, talking to three other women, with three resuscitation dummies in front of them, on a blue map. There is artwork on the walls and a blue door to the left. KCH
Tanya Birke teaches resuscitation to Parklands Primary School teachers Harriet Smith, Georgie Robinson, and Daisy Gibbins

The programme now involves 29 volunteers, with the project reaching more than 80 teachers and support staff.

Irchester Community Primary School was among the first to benefit from the initiative.

Head teacher Simon Anderson said: "We feel privileged to have received it as part of this extraordinary volunteer initiative, giving training to primary schools for free.

"It was enjoyable, and very well received, and enabled our team to develop some skills that could save a life."

Tanya Birke, Kettering General Hospital's quality excellence lead nurse, helped to set the initiative up and added: "By offering hands-on training with clear guidance, the programme ensures that school staff feel prepared and reassured when faced with emergency situations.

"Through this initiative, we aim to strengthen emergency preparedness across primary schools in Northamptonshire."

News imageKCH A large group of people in a room, with six sitting down and five people holding dummies. They are in a room with a wooden floor, blue curtains, and windows. Some are sat down on chairs and the rest are standing up. KCH
The project has been made possible with the help of about 29 volunteers

Rawson said: "I wanted to turn my grief into something positive.

"My friend meant so much to me that I wanted to create a legacy in her memory."

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