This week, literally tens of thousands of people, mainly children, will learn how to restart a heart. Why is that important? Because, learning CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation could turn you into a lifesaver.
When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, not to be confused with a heart attack, they are clinically dead; their heart has stopped beating and they will not recover unless someone is prepared to start CPR quickly and a defibrillator is attached to them to reset the heart.
Restart a Heart Day, which takes place today (16/10), was started by the Resuscitation Council and is supported by the British Heart Foundation.
This week, staff from West Midlands Ambulance Service will join volunteers across the region and the rest of the UK to train tens of thousands of children on how to do CPR.
The volunteers come from all walks of life; community first responders, local businesses, students and lecturers from some of our universities and other NHS staff. Together we will try to train as many people as possible in the life saving skill.
A cardiac arrest can happen to absolutely anyone; young or old, fit or not. That’s why knowing and being prepared to carry out CPR is so important, because the next one could affect a friend or loved one of yours; you just never know.
