On Restart a Heart Day (Wednesday 16 October), Worcestershire County Council is encouraging everyone to learn how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator, skills that can save lives.
Every second counts when having a cardiac arrest. Less than one in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
A cardiac arrest is when someone’s heart suddenly stops beating, and their breathing is abnormal or has stopped.
By learning CPR and how to use a defibrillator, you are giving someone their best chance of survival.
It takes just 15 minutes to learn how to perform CPR with a free online course from the British Heart Foundation, Learn CPR in 15 minutes.
British Heart Foundation also have a 2 minute video where you can find out more about defibrillators and how to use one at the Defibrilators page of the British Heart Foundation website.
There are nearly 900 defibrillators in Worcestershire. They are located in lots of public places such as outside shopping centres, pubs, schools, and community centres. To find the nearest defibrillator in your area, go to the Defib Finder website.
Councillor David Ross, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing at Worcestershire County Council said: “Please take a few minutes this Restart a Heart Day to brush up on CPR and find out where the nearest defibrillator is; at home, work, and where you spend your free time. You never know when you might be the first person available to help someone.
Anyone can use a defibrillator. You do not need training. Once you turn it on, it will give clear step-by-step voice instructions.”
If you do not have a defib in your local community, there is funding available to help you acquire one. You can find more information on the Access to CPR and defibrillators pages of the Worcestershire County Council website.
If you already have a defibrillator, please make sure it's registered with The Circuit, the national defibrillator network, so emergency services can locate it. To register a defibrillator go to the Circuit website. Please also ensure it is regularly maintained and serviced.
Restart a Heart Day is an annual campaign led by the Resuscitation Council UK, the British Heart Foundation, and other health organisations.
Facebook
Twitter
Email
WhatsApp
Messenger