KNUTSFORD Heartstart has its finger on the pulse when it comes to offering first-class training to the community.

The Guardian’s Cara Cunningham was invited to the latest course on September 4 to be given a lesson on saving lives.

KNUTSFORD Community First Responder Trust has been at the heart of the community for ten years and hundreds of people are now ‘CPR trained’ thanks to efforts of its dedicated volunteers.

On Thursday, I joined around 17 new ‘recruits’ in learning emergency life support skills at the monthly Heartstart course at Knutsford Methodist Church.

A variety of participants attended; including a cohort from Barclays at Radbroke Hall, who earlier this year helped to buy a new First Responder vehicle; a Cardiac Rehab patient from Wythenshawe Hospital; and a mum and daughter, who sadly lost their son and brother, Harry Dubois, to an undiagnosed heart condition in April.

The course content focuses on the most vital information, as Becka our instructor explained, the aim of the course is not to overburden attendees with knowledge but to highlight that ‘simple skills saves lives’.

It prepares participants for real-life emergencies by taking them through real-life scenarios, such as dealing with an unconscious person, resuscitation, and how to use a defibrillator. After watching the scenarios play out on screen, the participants are taught the theoretical and practical life-saving skills needed.

Debbie and Emily Dubois, from Hale, attended the course after son and brother, Harry, died at the aged of 17 from a fatal aortic dissection - a rupturing of the body’s largest artery.

Although Harry’s condition meant that he couldn’t have been saved by CPR, the experience prompted Debbie and Emily to equip themselves with life-saving skills.

Mum Debbie said: “With CPR you can usually make a difference and save a life.

“I have never done first aid and obviously you hope that in the moment you retain it. You can learn quite a lot in such a short space of time.”

The Heartstart courses take place on the first Thursday of every month at the Methodist Church at 7.30pm. To book, visit heartstartknutsford.co.uk or call 01565 631324.

To find out more about fundraising in memory of Harry Dubois, visit lastinghope.bhf.org.uk/harryduboisfundraising.