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Two thousand people learn life-saving advice and skills
In the past two years, 2,000 people have attended free sessions offering basic life support and advice for anyone caring for small babies and children, provided by members of staff from the West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (WSFT).
Since March 2023 parents, grandparents and other carers have attended the sessions, organised by Georgie Brown, lead multidisciplinary team educator in the Trust’s maternity services and her husband Kevin, who is WSFT senior resuscitation practitioner and also teaches life support skills to Trust staff.
“We are delighted to have been able to teach so many local people basic paediatric life support for babies and children,” said Georgie. “The sessions are for new parents and those expecting a baby, grandparents, care givers – anyone who is caring for small babies. Choking can be quite common and scary, so one of the things we teach uses mannequins to demonstrate how to deal with that. We also offer information about childhood illnesses, breast feeding, and the chance to have your baby weighed.
“It is so rewarding sharing these life skills, which are so important. As well as running sessions at the West Suffolk Hospital (WSH), we organise events in community hubs around the area, to reach as many people as possible. They are always so popular.”
Two of the couples attending the latest session at the WSH on 29 April with their babies, were Jordan and Laura Haynes, and Alex and Ben Stimpson. They met last year while taking National Childbirth Trust (NCT) classes together, and their babies were born at about the same time late last year. They have kept in touch, and said they were very thankful for the BLS classes.
One mother has given feedback that was shared on the Trust’s Maternity Facebook, describing how she was able to use the training gained at one of the sessions when her son choked on a mini breadstick.
Future sessions are now available at the West Suffolk Hospital: 27 May and 1 July; and two sessions on 18 October.
Sessions available in community settings:
- Sudbury Community Health Centre: 19 May, 2 and 9 June and 14 July.
- Haverhill Rugby Club: 3 July, 2 October, 4 December.
- Newmarket Community Hospital: 3 June, 20 July and 24 September.
- Thetford Children’s Centre: 15 May, 4 September, 16 December
Email BLS@wsh.nhs.uk to request a place at any of the free events.
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