On World Heart Day (29 September), paramedics are inviting Londoners to take part in free hands-on training sessions across the city throughout October, giving people the confidence and skills to step in during a medical emergency.
As part of the Restart a Heart campaign – an annual initiative led by Resuscitation Council UK – paramedics at London Ambulance Service are offering free sessions to teach people what to do if someone suffers a cardiac arrest.
The campaign aims to improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest by teaching more people how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) including chest compressions.
A cardiac arrest is a life-threatening emergency where the heart stops pumping blood and oxygen around the body. Using a defibrillator alongside chest compressions gives people the best chance of survival before an ambulance crew arrives.
Abby Stark, Paramedic and Community Resuscitation Trainer, said:
“Every second counts when someone suffers a cardiac arrest. The simple skills taught through could help you keep someone alive until paramedics arrive.
“Around 76 per cent of cardiac arrests happen at home, so the life you save could be that of a parent, partner, child, friend or neighbour.
“Learning CPR takes just a few minutes, but those minutes could one day help you save a life. That’s why we’re urging Londoners to join one of our free training sessions and become part of a generation of lifesavers.”
The sessions form part of London Ambulance Service’s London Lifesavers programme which offers free training to schools, community groups, organisations and residents across the capital, helping to build safer and more resilient communities.
Throughout October, the Service’s London lifesaver team will be running free sessions at locations across London. Planned events include:
- Sunday 4 October, 10:00-16:00, St George’s Shopping Centre, St Anns Road, Harrow, HA1 1HS
- Saturday 10 October, 11:00-15:00, Richmond Community Resilience Fair, Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College, Parkshot, Richmond upon Thames TW9 2RE
- Thursday 15 October, 10:00-15:00, Kensal Rise Library, Bathurst Gardens, NW10 5EU
- Wednesday 28 October, 11:00-15:00, Wandsworth Community Resilience Fair, Griffin Primary School, Stewart’s Road, SW8 4JB
- Friday 30 October, 10:30 -16:30, Royal Air Force Museum, Grahame Park Way, NW9 5LL
You can find full details of upcoming events and training sessions on the London Ambulance Service website.
London Lifesavers is funded through the London Ambulance Charity, which supports the delivery of life-saving CPR training and community education programmes across the capital.
World Heart Day is a global awareness day held every year on 29 September, led by the World Heart Federation. Its purpose is to raise awareness of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, and encourage action to improve heart health.