This week literally tens of thousands of people, mainly children, will learn how to restart a heart which could turn them into a lifesaver.

When a someone suffers a cardiac arrest they are clinically dead as their heart has stopped beating. Patients won’t recover unless someone is prepared to start CPR quickly and a defibrillator is attached to them to reset the heart.

Today is ‘Restart a Heart Day’, an initiative started by the Resuscitation Council and supported by the British Heart Foundation.

This week, staff from West Midlands Ambulance Service will join volunteers across the region to train tens of thousands of children in 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 their aim is 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.

On 11^th of November 2017, John Simpson was at home in Sutton Coldfield using an exercise bike, when he started to feel unwell. John dialled 999 and, as the crews were treating John, his wife arrived home and was understandably shocked by what she found. In a letter to the Trust, Mr Simpson said:

“I would like to commend the actions of the two ambulance crews who attended the incident and undoubtedly saved my life.

“There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the actions of the crews allowed me to survive long enough to receive this life saving treatment. Their concern, tolerance and professionalism was a constant source of reassurance to both myself and my wife.”

To find out more about Restart A Heart day, and CPR training, you can visit bhf.org.uk.