MP Eleanor Laing has joined a campaign urging CPR to be taught in secondary schools.

The Epping Forest MP, who joined The British Heart Foundation 'Nation of Lifesavers' campaign today, is urging people to join and assist in increasing the number of people trained in life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Figures released by the foundation revealed that more than 30,000 people suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK every year however fewer than one in ten survive, partly because not enough people have the skills and confidence to perform CPR.

The campaign could save around 5,000 additional lives a year in the UK, based on survival rates in countries like Norway where CPR training is mandatory in schools.

Since the launch of the campaign, on October 16, more than 5,000 people have signed the petition to make CPR and public access defibrillator awareness taught in all secondary schools.

Mrs Laing is now calling on secondary schools and community groups in Epping Forest to order their free Call Push Rescue Training Kit.

She said: “Cardiac arrest survival rates in the UK fall way behind survival rates in other countries where CPR training is part of the curriculum.

“By joining the Nation of Lifesavers I want to see every child in the UK finish school equipped with the necessary skills to respond in a medical emergency.

“CPR is an important skill and just 30 minutes of training could save someone’s life.”