More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
More than a third of adults have never learnt any essential CPR skills and leading health organisations are concerned that training rates remain 'stubbornly low'.
Health chiefs are using today's Restart a Heart Day to encourage people to learn skills which could save the life of someone in cardiac arrest.
Restart a Heart Day is led by Resuscitation Council UK, along with St John Ambulance, the British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross and all UK ambulance services and aims to train people in how to perform CPR so that they feel confident to act in an emergency.
A survey of more than 2,000 adults conducted by YouGov last month confirmed that more than a third of those asked - 38% - do not have the skills required to perform the life saving act.
For every minute a person in cardiac arrest doesn’t receive CPR and defibrillation, their chance of survival drops by up to 10% - so acting in an emergency is crucial. And with most cardiac arrests happening at home, knowing CPR and being confident to act could save a loved one’s life.
Professor Andrew Lockey, consultant in emergency medicine and co-lead for World Restart a Heart at Resuscitation Council UK, said the very public experience of Danish footballer Christian Eriksen during the Euros, who collapsed during a match, shows how crucial having the immediate skills are.
He explained: “Learning CPR has never been more important. When Christian Eriksen survived a sudden cardiac arrest at the Euros, he did so because those around him had the essential CPR skills that could save his life, and the confidence to act quickly when they realised what had happened to him. These are simple skills that everyone can do if they take the time to learn them."
People can learn CPR by attending local training events or courses while there are online resources too. Information is also produced in a range of languages, including Punjabi, Hindi, Arabic, Gujarati, Welsh, Polish, Chinese and Kurdish, as well as in Makaton, to support every community.While tailored information is also available especially for teachers to use with students in lessons.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the BHF, said: “CPR is a lifesaving skill which is quick and simple to learn, and you never know when you’ll need to use it or on who. Each year there are over 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests, but tragically the survival rate is currently less than one in 10 in the UK.
"This year millions of us saw how vitally important it is to know CPR when Christian Eriksen collapsed at the Euros - swift action in giving him CPR and using a defibrillator ultimately helped save his life. But not everybody is as fortunate, and that’s why we’re urging everyone to learn CPR to help improve survival rates and save lives.”
Graham Martin from Sittingbourne in Kent suffered a cardiac arrest, aged 65, while training at the gym. Staff called 999 before starting CPR and using a defibrillator to shock his heart back into a normal rhythm.
After 18 days in hospital, several of them in a coma, Graham was fitted with a device to regulate his heart rhythms and was able to go home. But with seven minutes between the alarm being raised and emergency services arriving, the work of Graham's gym staff was truly lifesaving.
He explained: "Without what was done at the gym, I would not have survived, it was crucial. If they didn’t have a defibrillator, and if the guys had not known how to give CPR, I would not be here today.
"I understand that just one in 10 people in the UK survives a cardiac arrest outside a hospital, so things were against me.
“CPR is a great thing to learn. During my rehabilitation I went on a half day CPR course, and I would urge everyone to learn how to do it.”
To learn more about Restart a Heart and for details of training opportunities click here.
