A NATIONAL scheme which is helping save the lives of heart attack victims is being run at RAF Lyneham.

It aims to train both military personnel and civilians at the base on how to give first aid to people suffering from heart conditions.

All members of the RAF are taught first aid as part of their basic training and this includes helping people with heart and breathing problems.

But now this training is to become more specialised so people with more serious complaints can be helped.

To do this Lyneham has adopted the British Heart Foundation's Heartstart scheme covering the treatment of heart and circulatory problems which result in up to 330,000 people suffering from heart attacks every year in the UK.

Sergeant Pete Tuite of the UK Mobile Air Movements Squadron had the idea of setting up the BHF scheme at Lyneham.

He did so after gaining a grant from the foundation to buy resuscitation equipment and has now taken delivery of £4,000 worth of Heartstart training aids.

At the moment Sgt Tuite is the only person on the base qualified to instruct under the scheme, but he is already training his first assistant Corporal Stu Slee .

He said the equipment will not be used solely for training members of the RAF. Service families and civilians will also be able to attend the two hour courses which include cardio-pulmonary resuscitation, dealing with heart attacks and heavy bleeding, and general care of heart casualties.

Anyone interested can contact Sgt Tuite on (01249) 890381 extension 6387.