Teesside University offers life-saving CPR training for staff

A Teesside University Security Officer who helped save the life of a member of the public has spoken about the importance of CPR training.

Chris Coverdale was at the scene of an incident where he had to deliver cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to help save a person’s life.

Teesside University has been delivering vital CPR training to staff and Chris stressed how some simple techniques can have a significant impact.

It was in 2021 when Chris responded to a call about a woman who had collapsed outside The Dickens Inn on Southfield Road.

Chris quickly assessed the situation and called for an ambulance. As they waited for the ambulance to arrive, the woman's condition worsened, and she was struggling with her breathing and became unresponsive.

Chris made the decision to perform CPR until the woman showed signs of regaining consciousness and the ambulance arrived to provide further medical care. The woman made a full recovery, but the CPR which was administered was vital in terms of helping to save her life.

Chris, who had a distinguished career in the Fire Brigade before joining Teesside University four years ago, said: “The actions I took were extremely simple, yet it is the simple skills that saves lives. Statistically, if we can get a Defib on someone in under three minutes their chance of survival increases by 80%.

“Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of a Defib are simple skills that save lives and can be performed by anyone. The more people that know how to use a Defib and carry out CPR the better for all of us.”

Chris was a first aid and trauma instructor in his previous role and has been using this experience to deliver workshops to provide CPR training for staff at the University.

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