Ambulance service invites people to help save lives this Restart a Heart Day
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is inviting members of the public from across the South West to join them at free community events this October, to learn lifesaving CPR, as part of Restart a Heart Day.
This national day aims to raise awareness about cardiac arrest and helps people to learn CPR, giving them lifesaving skills and the confidence to use them.
At each event, people all ages can learn how to deliver lifesaving CPR and how to use and locate a defibrillator.
Members of team SWASFT, including paramedics, emergency care assistants, volunteer community first responders and representatives of the Volunteering & Community Services Department, will be on hand to answer any questions and share their extensive knowledge.
There will be in-depth CPR demonstrations for members of the public to join and take part in. Certificates will be given to everyone who completes the 15-minute CPR sessions. However, any time spent learning about CPR and defibrillation with the team will help towards increasing survival rates for out of hospital cardiac arrest in the Southwest.
You can see all the event locations, times, and dates below.
- Gloucester Quays Shopping Centre, St Ann Way, Gloucester GL1 5SH, 10am - 3pm, Sunday 13 October
- Dolphin Shopping Centre, 110 Dolphin Centre, Poole BH15 1SZ, 9am - 4pm, Wednesday 16 October
- Cornwall Services A30, Victoria, Saint Austell PL26 8UF, 10am – 4pm Saturday 19 October
- Cabot Circus, Bond Street, Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3BD, 10am – 3pm Saturday 19 October
- Brunel Centre Shopping Centre, 29a Canal Walk, Swindon SN1 1LF, 10am – 3pm Saturday 19 October
Ryan Ware, Deputy Head of Volunteering and Community Services at SWASFT, said: “This Restart a Heart Day, we want to empower people to know what to do, should the worst happen. A key focus for this year’s Restart a Heart Day is equal access to defibrillators.
“The chances of surviving a cardiac arrest are massively increased if a defibrillator is used. More than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen every year in the UK. Sadly, less than one in 10 people survive. Early CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival in some cases.
“We want more people to survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by making sure everyone knows what to do when in an emergency situation where CPR and defibrillators are needed. By hosting events like Restart a Heart Day, we hope to share our knowledge and teach lifesaving skills to the public. We are looking forward to welcoming everyone to these exciting events!”
If you’re unable to attend one of the free events, you can visit https://www.swast.nhs.uk/saving-lives-together to learn how to deliver CPR and where your nearest defibrillator is.
Restart a Heart Day takes place on and around 16 October each year.