The main advantage is for the community. There are currently no schemes operating around Heath, Cathays, Roath and Gabalfa areas of Cardiff. Being such a densely populated area, a large number of the public will gain from such a scheme being in place. Members of the community will benefit, as events such as choking and loss of consciousness can affect anyone; but the greatest impact will be aimed at the older population who are at a higher risk of heart attacks and stroke.

Although students from 4th and 5th years  of the medical course have enrolled onto the scheme, the vast majority are in their 3rd year of training. These students have completed ‘basic life support’ training as part of the course. This means that the training required to prepare these students (although mandatory) will be straightforward and easily completed.

Although there have been many successful schemes set up already, this was the first scheme of its kind in the UK using medical students and the largest one to date. The aim was to set an example for other medical schools to follow, and so far Edinburgh and Southampton have joined the incentive and  established their own branches.

There is also a great advantage for the students themselves from participating in such a scheme – providing an invaluable opportunity to gain experience in dealing with emergency situations; preparing tomorrow’s doctors for the future.