Firefighter teaches life-saving skills to karate club

Lee Howorth, Sensei Dervish, Steve Nicholls and David Arthur

A firefighter from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) is teaching live-saving first-aid to members of a Rochdale karate club to raise awareness of heart conditions in young people.

Lee Howorth, from Red Watch at Rochdale, has teamed up with the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) and chief instructor Sensei Dervish Dervish from Kaizen Do Karate to deliver first-aid courses at the club.

Lee has been training at the karate club for many years and is currently a trainee instructor.

Part of the course involved having to complete first-aid training, after which Lee and Dervish decided to share what they’d learned with adults and younger members of the club.

This includes existing students from as young as five-years-old and parents who are non-members.

Lee said: “We thought this would be a good idea, especially in light of recent incidents where young people have suffered heart complications in their chosen sports across the country. We want to raise awareness of this and ensure members know how to give basic first-aid.

“We also hope to raise funds to purchase a defibrillator for the karate club as these can be life-saving.”

Lee and Dervish were then approached by another member of the club – NWAS paramedic David Arthur – who told them about the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Heartstart Accredited Coach course which he helps to deliver.

The pair attended the course which will allow them to train members of the general public from across the borough in basic first aid and emergency life support.

Lee said: “Kaizen Do Karate, NWAS and GMFRS are working together closely to look at delivering the scheme to as many people as possible across the borough.

“We will be using the community room at Rochdale Fire Station and also delivering fire safety messages and generating Home Safety Checks.”

The Heartstart programme is a free initiative that teaches people what to do in a life-threatening emergency – simple skills that save lives.

Steve Nicholls, NWAS’ Community Resuscitation Development Officer, said: “Heartstart is a fantastic initiative. It’s important that members of the community know how to deliver Emergency Life Support (ELS) in a life-threatening emergency, so I’m thrilled that the student and staff at the club have taken part in this initiative.”

GMFRS’ Borough Manager for Rochdale, Tony Lander, said: “This is an exciting and worthwhile opportunity to teach young people the benefits of staying fit and well and the importance of having a healthy heart.

“I fully support Rochdale Fire Station being involved with the karate club, the BHF and NWAS to promote these key safety messages.”

Over the next month, the karate club will be holding various fundraising events to raise money for a defibrillator machine.