Bishop’s Council Train in Life-Saving Skills
Members of the Bishop’s Council recently took part in a vital First Aid and defibrillator training session led by the Revd Geraint John, Ministry Area Leader for Pedair Afon MA, who is also a qualified first aid trainer and volunteer Community First Responder with the Welsh Ambulance Service.
The hands-on session, held at Llys Esgob, provided Council members with essential life-saving skills, including CPR, the use of defibrillators (AEDs), and how to respond calmly and effectively in a medical emergency. Rev’d Geraint shared his practical expertise and personal insights from emergency call-outs, reinforcing the importance of being prepared, not only spiritually, but physically, to care for others.
According to the British Heart Foundation, over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen each year in the UK. Yet fewer than 1 in 10 people survive — often because help doesn’t arrive in time. Performing CPR and using a defibrillator within the first few minutes can more than double the chance of survival.
The training reminded the Bishop’s Council members of the church’s call to pastoral presence in every sense, being ready not only to listen and pray, but to act in moments of physical crisis. Bishop Mary is strongly encouraging Ministry Areas and church groups to consider organising similar basic First Aid and defibrillator training sessions. Doing so equips lay leaders, churchwardens, welcomers, and clergy with the tools to potentially save lives in their communities. There is no charge for the course, but participants are encouraged to make a donation if they feel able to.
Rev'd Geraint says: “First aid is one of those rare skills we learn while genuinely hoping we’ll never have to use it.
But when the moment comes — in a church, a hall, a street, or even during worship — those few minutes before emergency services arrive can be the difference between life and death. Every year, over 30,000 people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Without immediate CPR or access to a defibrillator, the survival rate is shockingly low — fewer than 1 in 10. But if a bystander acts quickly and starts CPR, that person’s chances of survival improves significantly. Knowing how to respond in a crisis is a form of pastoral care.
First aid isn’t just a practical skill, it’s an act of love. It’s one of the simplest ways we can be the hands and feet of Christ in urgent moments.”
If your Ministry Area is interested in organising training, please contact Rev’d Geraint John (geraintjohn@cinw.org.uk)