ARMY Cadet Force instructors from all around Suffolk have been learning techniques needed to train the public in emergency life support.The course, which took place at Ipswich Territorial Army Centre, in Yarmouth Road, aimed to teach ACF instructors more about heart and circulatory disease, which is the UK's biggest killer.

ARMY Cadet Force instructors from all around Suffolk have been learning techniques needed to train the public in emergency life support.

The course, which took place at Ipswich Territorial Army Centre, in Yarmouth Road, aimed to teach ACF instructors more about heart and circulatory disease, which is the UK's biggest killer.

A new group, Heartstart Suffolk ACF Coastal, has been set up to help as many people as possible learn the skills needed to deal with someone who has either suffered a heart attack, has stopped breathing, or is choking or bleeding.

About 330,000 people a year suffer a heart attack and it only takes a few minutes for brain damage to occur after breathing, or the heart, has stopped. The prompt action of a bystander can mean the difference between life and death.

Instructor Alan Jackson from Bungay Detachment said: "The more people who learn these techniques will buy the time for me and my colleagues to get to the casualty"

Suffolk ACF has 27 detachments around the county and all members will receive training in emergency life support.

Captain Les Jackson, course director, said, "With all these new instructors we can now open up the scheme to train other youth or community groups.

"Courses last approximately two hours and you do not need to be an expert in order to take part".

The British Heart Foundation which co-ordinates the Heartstart UK national initiative in emergency life support training has donated the manikins that the scheme uses for practice.

n Anyone interested should contact Les Jackson on 01502 516768.