The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) is inviting people across the South West to take part in free community events this October to learn lifesaving CPR, as part of the annual Restart a Heart (RSAH) initiative.
Led by Resuscitation Council UK, the initiative raises awareness of cardiac arrests and equips people with the confidence and skills to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and use a defibrillator. By learning these simple techniques, members of the public can play a vital role in improving survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.
From Monday 13 to Sunday 19 October, paramedics, emergency care assistants, volunteer community first responders, and colleagues from the Volunteering & Community Services team at SWASFT will deliver free, hands-on training sessions at venues across the region. Participants will have the chance to watch CPR demonstrations, practise on manikins, and learn how to locate and use a defibrillator in an emergency.
Everyone who completes a 15-minute CPR session will receive a certificate, but even a few minutes spent learning from the team will help towards increasing survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests across the South West.
Each year, around 100,000 people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest – that’s approximately 250 people every day. Sadly, fewer than one in ten survive. Immediate CPR and defibrillation are critical, as for every minute without intervention reduces the chance of survival by 10%.
Event locations, times, and dates are listed below.
Monday 13 October
Great Torrington Golf Club, EX38 7EZ | 09:30–15:30
Tuesday 14 October
Croyde Village Hall, EX33 1LZ | 10:00–17:00
Wednesday 15 October
St Sidwell’s Leisure Centre, Exeter, EX1 2JX | 09:00–19:00
Great Western Hospital (next to main entrance), Swindon, SN3 6BB | 10:00–14:00
Thursday 16 October
Dolphin Shopping Centre, Poole, BH15 1SZ | 10:00–17:00
Princess Theatre, Torquay, TQ2 5EZ | 10:00–16:00
ASDA Superstore, Falmouth, TR10 9LY | 10:00–15:00
ASDA Superstore, Bodmin, PL31 2AR | 10:00–15:00
Friday 17 October
ASDA Superstore, Weymouth, DT4 8JQ | 09:30 – 14:30
Saturday 18 October
Tesco, Portland, DT5 2AD | 09:30 – 14:30
Sunday 19 October
Gloucester Quays, Gloucester, GL1 5SH | 10:00 – 16:00
Dave Wilmot, Volunteering and Community Services Officer at SWASFT, said: “Every minute matters when someone suffers a cardiac arrest, and knowing what to do can make the difference between life and death. A simple act like starting CPR or using a defibrillator can more than double a person’s chances of survival.
“With 80% of cardiac arrests happening at home, it could be a friend or family member who urgently needs your help.
“Through Restart a Heart, we want to give people across our communities the skills and confidence to step in during those critical moments. These events are a chance for anyone to learn how to save a life, and we’re looking forward to welcoming people of all ages to get involved.”
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 to locate your nearest defibrillator through the British Heart Foundation’s Defib Finder – https://www.defibfinder.uk/
Follow SWASFT on social media for updates on this year’s events and use the hashtag #RestartAHeart to join the conversation.
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