CPR & Defibrillator Training FAQs

Our training is designed to be accessible to as many people as possible. You don’t need any previous medical knowledge or experience - just a willingness to learn how you could help save a life.

Yes. We aim to make our training welcoming and accessible to everyone. Our trainers are experienced in adapting their approach to help people feel comfortable and confident. If there is something we can do to support you before or during the session, please let us know when you book.

Our scheduled training is suitable for 10-year-olds and older, as long as they have a responsible adult with them. We strongly believe that younger people can learn valuable lifesaving skills, and we regularly provide training specifically for school children and young people.

If children are not participating in the training, we recommend checking with us before bringing them along, as the practical nature of the session means you may need to concentrate fully on the training.

No. You will never practise CPR on a real person. All practical CPR training is carried out using realistic training manikins, so you can learn and practise the correct technique safely.

Yes. The training is designed to be safe and practical. You will practise CPR and defibrillator use - using training equipment under the guidance of experienced trainers. You will learn how to use a public access defibrillator (a defibrillator assesses the heart rhythm and will deliver a shock only when it is indicated.)

The most important thing is to act rather than do nothing. Our training gives you the skills and confidence to recognise a cardiac arrest, start CPR and use a defibrillator correctly.In a real emergency, you should always follow the instructions of the emergency services and the defibrillator. Calling 999 and starting CPR quickly are crucial steps while help is on its way. Once you have called 999, the ambulance service will help guide and reassure you.

The aim is not to turn you into a medical professional. It's to give you the practical skills and confidence to act in an emergency. 99% of people who have attended our training sessions in the past say they would be confident to do CPR and use a defibrillator after their training session.You will learn how to recognise a cardiac arrest, call for help, perform CPR and use a defibrillator. The more people in our community who are confident to take these first steps, the better prepared Malvern is to respond when a cardiac arrest happens.

A typical Heartstart training session lasts around 90 minutes. It is hands-on and practical, giving you plenty of opportunity to practise the skills rather than simply sitting and listening. Any questions can also be answered

Most courses for the general public will have 12 or so, but sessions for other groups and in schools may be larger.  We keep groups small enough to ensure that everyone has plenty of opportunity to practise and ask questions. We use multiple training manikins and defibrillators so participants can get hands-on experience of both. For the practical parts of the training, we usually ask people to work together in pairs.

Our sessions are delivered by committed, experienced volunteer trainers, with the number of trainers depending on the size and type of session. There will usually be one trainer for every four participants for the practical parts of the course.

We hold our training at various locations throughout Malvern and the surrounding villages. Details of the venue are shown alongside the date on the booking form.

No. Heartstart Malvern training is completely free. This is due to many different organisations who fundraise for us. The aim is to help as many people as possible develop the skills and confidence to be able to recognise and react to a cardiac arrest.

No. There is no exam or formal test. The training is about learning practical skills and becoming confident enough to use them in a real emergency. Our trainers will guide you through everything and give you plenty of opportunity to practise.

Yes, our training covers how to give rescue breaths, also known as mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, with the opportunity to practise on a manikin. Once you have been trained, giving rescue breaths alongside chest compressions is considered best practice. However, if you haven't been trained or feel unable to give rescue breaths, continuous, uninterrupted chest compressions alone will still help. Please note, all manikins are cleansed with antibacterial wipes after each training session.