A DEDICATED paramedic aims to teach every year six pupil in Worcester important lifesaving skills in her spare time - but needs help to fundraise for essential equipment.

The defibrillator training units will help Ali Vinson, from St Johns, teach the children how to correctly use the equipment and carry out CPR.

At the moment the West Midlands Ambulance Service paramedic has one unit and has to borrow others for when she visits schools to deliver the free sessions.

It is a cause close to her heart as her son James was diagnosed with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy - a condition where the heart muscle becomes thickened, in 2014.

Mrs Vinson said: "At the moment I am having to scrounge extra units.

"Rob Underhill [from Charlotte and Craig Saving Hearts Foundation] helps me out a lot but it would mean not having to keep travelling to Redditch each time I need one.

"The classes are usually of 30 so three is enough as we can split into groups and everyone can have a turn.

"Lots of calls I am sent to as a paramedic, children are on the scene when their parent has had a collapse and knowing these skills would be a great advantage.

"Children are very clever and willing to help out and absolutely love the sessions.

"They're very, very keen because it is a new skill and once they have done it they will always remember what to do."

Mrs Vinson began holding the sessions after fundraising to place a defibrillator in her son's school and has also held sessions with schools' teaching staff.

Already she has taught 90 children with another 100 signed up for sessions and hopes to raise £500.

She added: "These are lifesaving skills and are so simple to do.

"Once the children have learned it they don't forget it."

Anyone wishing to donate can do so by logging on to gofundme.com/xdb5vhjw.