CPR training is being given to pupils in all Inverclyde secondary schools

The council has teamed up with charity British Heart Foundation to teach emergency response skills to reduce the number of lives lost from cardiac arrests.

Each school has training manikins as well as materials for the training sessions.

Councillor Jim Clocherty said: "It is vital our young people are taught the simple, basic skills that can let them act immediately and save a life.

"They will take those skills with them into adulthood and over time we should see a dramatic improvement in the number of people surviving out of hospital cardiac arrests."

A cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body - unlike a heart attack which occurs when the blood supplying the heart muscle is cut off due to a clot in one of the arteries.

Daniel Jones, from BHF Scotland, said: "In committing to ensuring all pupils are trained in CPR before they leave school, Inverclyde Council have shown the vision and bravery to follow international evidence to fight back against Scotland's poor survival rates from out of hospital cardiac arrest."

Cllr Jim MacLeod, who has lost several family members due to heart problems, is pleased young people will be given such vital training.

He said: "My mother, her two sisters and brother all died between the ages of 54 and 61 of heart problems.

"CPR training is something more of us should learn.

"As well as the BHF there are others who teach CPR in Inverclyde including Glen Miller who recently featured in the Tele.

"We are also seeing schools and other facilities getting defibrillators after the campaign started by Jayden Orr's family following his tragic death.

"It's great to see."