Bus drivers trained to give life-saving CPR by Thames Valley Air Ambulance

Carousel Buses is training all new drivers to administer life-saving CPR in partnership with Thames Valley Air Ambulance.

The inaugural winner of Carousel’s Brand the Bus competition, Thames Valley Air Ambulance secured a prize package worth £60,000 and fitted a defibrillator on board the fully branded CPR awareness-raising bus.

Since the bus was unveiled earlier this year, 55 new drivers have already received CPR training from Thames Valley Air Ambulance volunteers, and now have the skills and increased confidence to provide CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

With an average of 20,000 daily passengers, the training means thousands of people each day can be reassured that the driver behind the wheel has the skills to save a life. 

Gareth Jones, Lead Driver Trainer at Carousel Buses, said: “These important life-saving skills are so valuable when someone experiences a cardiac arrest.

“When someone is unresponsive with abnormal breathing, knowing how to respond confidently can truly make all the difference in saving a life.

“Volunteers from Thames Valley Air Ambulance have been coming in to deliver the training, which is very hands-on.

“Training has been delivered to new drivers as part of their initial induction and it has been well-received and thorough, teaching new skills and allowing drivers to feel more confident giving CPR and using the AED.

“It’s going from strength to strength and has worked very well, with plans to get existing drivers trained too.”

Laura Sanchez, Volunteer Manager at Thames Valley Air Ambulance, said: “When someone is in cardiac arrest, early CPR and defibrillation give our crews the best possible chance of saving a life.

“But we know that people are nervous about stepping in. That’s why we are working hard to boost CPR confidence in our community, and we’re delighted to see Carousel Bus drivers getting on board with our mission.

“For anyone who has seen our CPR bus and wants to start their journey to CPR confidence, we have a range of resources on our website including videos and a CPR guide. The worst thing you can do in that moment is nothing.”

Operating across Buckinghamshire, Berkshire and Oxfordshire, Thames Valley Air Ambulance’s HQ in Stokenchurch is home to its fleet of critical care response vehicles and is where the charity’s expert critical care paramedics and doctors train for every eventuality.

Operational from 7am to 2am, 365 days a year, the charity relies on donations as it receives no government or NHS funding.

Last year saw 1,230 callouts for cardiac arrests, an average of three per day. Fewer than one in 10 people survive a cardiac arrest outside of hospital, but the chance of surviving more than doubles with early CPR and defibrillation.

Luke Marion, Managing Director of Carousel Buses, said: “These are the meaningful connections and partnerships which Brand the Bus is all about. What begins with the competition often develops into something much bigger.

“In addition to raising awareness through the branding and associated advertising that came with winning the competition, we’re proud to be carrying a defibrillator on board and providing our drivers with life-saving skills.

“With the help of the amazing team and volunteers at Thames Valley Air Ambulance, we’re making a real difference.”

To find out more about the Thames Valley Air Ambulance CPR bus, please visit: www.tvairambulance.org.uk/CPR-Bus