An interactive online learning tool has been launched by British Heart Foundation (BHF) Cymru to equip thousands of schoolchildren with essential lifesaving skills.
Classroom RevivR is a game-changing tool that makes teaching lifesaving skills to students aged 11 to 16 easy and fun. It can be taught through one easy lesson plan – in Welsh or English – minimising teachers’ workload. Students only require a digital device and something to perform compressions on, like a cushion. Alternatively, a version where student devices are not required is also available.
Working together, young people will learn the difference between cardiac arrest and heart attack, how to respond to an unconscious person and make an emergency call, how to use a defibrillator and how to perform CPR safely.
The heart charity has launched the free digital tool, to encourage students to be prepared in the event of an emergency.
More than 120 schools in Wales have already registered for Classroom RevivR and BHF Cymru hopes the launch of this tool will encourage more to sign up, and ultimately, help save more lives.
Rhodri Thomas, Head of BHF Cymru, said: “The launch of Classroom RevivR today will set children up with an invaluable lifesaving skill at an early age. A cardiac arrest can affect anyone, at any time, so we want as many people to learn CPR as possible.
“Tragically, of the 2,800 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that happen every year in Wales, just one in twenty will survive. We are determined to change this by giving everyone the opportunity to learn CPR. By equipping our young people today with these lifesaving skills, more lives could be saved in the future.”
In a recently commissioned YouGov survey of people across Wales (aged 16+), BHF Cymru found that while the vast majority of people (58%) were aware that coronary heart disease is in the top two leading causes of death in Wales, almost 1 in 4 people (24%) still do not know how to perform CPR.
Rhodri added: “Classroom RevivR has been designed with busy teachers in mind. There is no need for an external trainer or specialist equipment, and the best part is that it’s completely free to use. We are urging all teachers to sign up to our free Classroom RevivR training so that every child leaves school knowing how to save a life.”
The launch took place at Ysgol Uwchradd Caergybi in Holyhead, where Head of PE Chloe Taylor took pupils from Year 8 and Year 12 through a live interactive session of Classroom RevivR.
The session was also attended by Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, Member of the Senedd for Ynys Môn and leader of Plaid Cymru, and Amlyn ab Iorwerth from Pwllheli, who had a cardiac arrest in 2013 and was saved by the quick actions of his wife, Michelle.
Rhun ap Iorwerth said: “I am glad to support the official Wales launch of Classroom RevivR, provided by the BHF Cymru. We know that providing training in how to respond when someone has a cardiac arrest can have a clear and measurable impact on survival rates, and it was great to see students in Holyhead engaging in the lesson and learning valuable lessons for the future.”
Sam Booth, 17, from Llanberis attends the school and had a cardiac arrest in September 2024 during a basketball match. He also shared his experience with the Year 8 pupils.
Sam said, “People don’t realise how rare it is to come through like I did, that’s why CPR training is so important. People think cardiac arrest only happens to older people, but it can happen to anyone. If it’s your best mate or family member, you need to know what to do.”
