A GROUP of Girl Guides have been training how to save lives, by using their village's heart defibrillators.

The girls from Kennington were trained in the use of the devices – used to treat heart attack victims – by Dick Tracey, Community Responder Manager at South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

The sessions followed a request by Guide leader Jo Lees. The girls were also taught the technique of cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

There are four public access defibrillators in Kennington, all of which can be used by members of the public by dialling 999.

Then SCAS staff give out an access code allowing people to unlock the cabinet and remove the defibrillator.

Ms Lees said 20 Guides, aged 10 to 14, completed the training.

She added: "I got talking to parish council chairman, Colin Charlett, and he thought it would be a good idea to get as many young people as possible knowing how to use them.

"With four defibrillators in the village it is was worth getting the Guides some training – you never know when you might have to use one."

Mr Tracey led the first two-hour training session as part of Restart a Heart Day in October.

Inspired by this first session, the Guides had further training, allowing them to qualify for the Guides' First Aid badge.

In order to be awarded the badge, Guides needed to be able to demonstrate a range of skills including assessing a casualty, checking for a response, checking for breathing and putting the patient in the recovery position.

They also had to demonstrate chest compressions on a mannequin, and know the correct procedure for making an emergency call.

Mr Tracey said: "I’m so pleased that the Kennington Girl Guides wanted to know how a defibrillator works and how to perform CPR.

"I’ve always said it’s not difficult to save a life, and with their First Aid badges the girls are all capable of being able to help to do this."

Mr Charlett, 68, presented the Guides with their defibrillator certificates and First Aid badges last month. He said: "We bought four defibrillators for £1,400 each and we hope they will turn out to be the biggest waste of money ever.

"I might need a defibrillator myself one day. I had a heart attack a few years back, but I'm not planning on having another one.

"I'm really glad the Guides now know how to use these defibrillators and we would like even more people to complete the training courses."

The First Aid badges are valid for two years, after which the Guides will be tested again.

Earlier this year Mr Tracey reached his target of bringing the number of public access defibrillators in Oxfordshire up to 500.

The Oxford Mail campaigned for public defibrillators to be installed across the county and when campaigning started in July 2014 there were only 120.