World record-breakers aim for official nod

Elated students are waiting to learn whether their world record will make it into an official bible recognising amazing feats.
Alfie Tipton from Bolsover CE School with teacher Mark Backhouse.Alfie Tipton from Bolsover CE School with teacher Mark Backhouse.
Alfie Tipton from Bolsover CE School with teacher Mark Backhouse.

Stewards from Rotary clubs counted 1,802 people, most of whom were school pupils, taking part in a first aid training session at Shirebrook, beating the previous world record of 1,700.

Participants should find out within the next fortnight whether their achievement will be honoured as a Guinness World Record.

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Dr Cheryle Baker, trustee of the Community Save a Life Scheme, said: “This was a wonderful team effort and I am so proud of all the young people who came along to undertake this training session and become lifesavers as well as record breakers.

“We now hope this is the beginning of our campaign to get all schools in the country having this training on their curriculum.”

The mass training session, which was attended by MP Dennis Skinner, took part at Shirebrook Academy on Friday. Trainers included members from the British Heart Foundation, the Community Save a Life Scheme, paramedics and also Sheffield Hallam University.

Andy Gilbert, the academy’s vice-principal, said: “It is brilliant to think that so many local children are now equipped to potentially save a life, such an essential skill we hope they will never need, but which one day could make a big difference.”

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Bolsover District Council worked in partnership with the academy, The Community Save a Life Scheme and the British Heart Foundation on the project. Cllr Deborah Watson from the council said: “What a fantastic achievement, a world record number of people training in life-saving skills! Also the schools that came along now have their own supply of mini resuscitation manikins and so will be able to repeat the training in class in the future.”