CASTLE Point MP Rebecca Harris is encouraging residents in the borough to follow in her footsteps after qualifying as a fully trained first aider.

Mrs Harris is hoping to raise the profile of first aid after news the UK is one of the lowest-ranking countries in Europe when it comes to knowledge on how to administer medical help.

Fewer than four out of 10 Brits would know what to do if they saw someone have an accident or suffer a heart attack.

An estimated 140,000 lives are thought could be saved if a first aider was on hand.

The training was organised through the All Party Parliamentary Group for First Aid, set by St John Ambulance and Boehringer Ingelheim earlier this year, providing MPs with free medical training.

Mrs Harris said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the First aid training course, it wasn’t difficult - quite a lot of it is really applied common sense. Now I know what to do in an emergency, I believe I would have the confidence to step forward.

“I would encourage as many people as possible should learn these basic life-saving skills because you never know when you might need them.”

For more information visit the St John Ambulance website at www.sja.org.uk