SOUTH Craven MP Julian Smith is backing a campaign aimed at increasing the number of people trained in life-saving CPR.

He is supporting calls by the British Heart Foundation for CPR and defibrillator awareness to be taught in all secondary schools.

The charity says more than 30,000 people suffer a cardiac arrest out of hospital every year, and 80 per cent of cases occur in the home.

But fewer than one in ten victims survive, partly – according to the foundation – because too few people have the skills and confidence to perform CPR.

Mr Smith said: "Cardiac arrest survival rates in the UK are way behind those in other countries where CPR training is part of the curriculum.

"I want to see every child in the UK finish school equipped with the necessary skills to respond in a medical emergency, which is why I am delighted to be able to support this campaign.

"CPR is an important skill and just 30 minutes of training could save someone's life."

During the campaign launch, he met Samantha Hobbs who – at the age of 14 – helped save her mum's life by performing CPR.

Simon Gillespie, of the British Heart Foundation, said: "Too many lives are lost needlessly because people don't have the basic CPR skills to act in life-threatening situations.

"We're determined to radically improve the country's shocking survival rates and mandatory training in secondary schools will go a long way towards that."