Could you take 15 minutes to learn how to restart a heart?
Each year over 30,000 people in the UK have a cardiac arrest outside of hospital and less than one in ten survive. Giving chest compressions (CPR) and using a defibrillator can more than double someone’s chances of survival.
Today (Monday 16 October) is ‘Restart a Heart Day’, a national initiative which aims to increase awareness of the importance of delivering CPR and using a defibrillator when someone suffers a cardiac arrest.
Plymouth City Council is encouraging everyone to take 15 minutes to learn how to do CPR through the British Heart Foundation’s ‘Revivr’ training. All you need is a cushion to help practice CPR: www.bhf.org.uk.
Councillor Mary Aspinall, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care said: “This is so important – by taking just 15 minutes to learn how to do CPR you could help to save a life in the future. When someone’s heart stops, every second counts so learning how to do chest compressions is a vital skill for everyone and I would love for as many Plymouth residents as possible to learn and feel equipped to deal with these kinds of emergencies.”
If someone is experiencing cardiac arrest, the quick use of a defibrillator in an easy to reach place can also be the lifeline that keeps them with us.
The Government has opened applications for a £1 million grant to help increase the number of defibrillators in our communities. Businesses and community organisations in areas with high footfall can apply now at: www.defibgrant.co.uk.
Anyone who already owns or manages a defibrillator is also asked to register it with The Circuit, the national defibrillator network run by ambulance trusts in conjunction with the British Heart Foundation. Once registered, the ambulance service can direct people to the closest one when it is needed.
The Circuit has a partner site, Defib Finder, where you can check the closest defibrillators to you and see if yours is already registered. However this website should not be used during an emergency: when someone collapses and stops breathing normally, it is important to quickly call 999, begin CPR and use defibrillator if one is available.