Restart A Heart Day 2024

Amblance and Rescue has been taking part in Restart A Heart Day at Beau Sejour.

Knowing how to do CPR and use an AED can save a life. Wednesday 16^th October is World Restart a Heart Day, an annual initiative led by Resuscitation Council UK which aims to increase the number of people surviving out-of hospital cardiac arrests.

Restart a Heart (RSAH) is run in partnership with ambulance services, health charities and an alliance of partners all over the world, improving public awareness of cardiac arrests and increasing the number of people trained in life-saving CPR and defibrillation awareness.

Guernsey’s ambulance service is once again supporting RSAH, this year working with the lifeguards at Beau Sejour delivering CPR and AED demonstrations and training for the public.

John Atkins, Head of Resilience and Education at St John Ambulance and Rescue Service said: “We are really pleased the team at Beau Sejour are getting hands on and supporting Restart A Heart Day. We are delighted to support them in their training sessions and demonstrations in the foyer area of the leisure centre. Anyone can be affected by a sudden cardiac arrest at any time, without immediate action, the person will die. Recognising when someone is in cardiac arrest, calling 999 and doing CPR are simple but vital skills that might save a life.  Being Resus Ready will ensure that in the ultimate medical emergency you can help save a life at home, at work, or in public.”

Restart a Heart Day serves as a powerful reminder that every member of our community has the potential to become a lifesaver. 80% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home. Every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by 10%.

CPR is a simple skill and AEDs are easy to use, however research suggests 37% of people said they wouldn’t feel very confident they could help someone having a cardiac arrest, while 24% said they wouldn’t be at all confident. Only 11% of people surveyed said they felt totally confident about using a defibrillator correctly

Sam Herridge, Head of Recreation Service at Beau Sejour said: “We are really proud to be hosting this important event in partnership with the ambulance service. Using CPR and defibrillation on a person in cardiac arrest has the potential to double their chance of survival. All of our Lifeguard trained staff are qualified in this through their Royal Lifesaving Society (RLSS) UK National Pool Lifeguard qualification – and their offering of free CPR and AED training on the day, alongside our RLSS Trainer Assessors presents a fantastic opportunity to raise awareness about the importance of bystander CPR and defibrillation in saving lives.”

John added “If you are unable to get to Beau Sejour on 16^th there are lots of other opportunities to learn these life-saving skills in Guernsey. The St John Guernsey charity provides first aid training in schools and to the wider community with courses at Les Cotils, and the Cardiac Action Group has been offering awareness sessions for the past few years.”