Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½

Each year, more than 40,000 people in the UK have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, with a survival rate of less than one in 10. Yet, currently, only four in ten people in the UK feel confident enough to perform CPR if they witness a cardiac arrest. Having someone who can administer CPR while waiting for help can dramatically increase the chances of survival.

At the University of Â鶹¹û¶³´«Ã½, students and staff on the Paramedic Science course are aiming to change those odds. On Wednesday 15 October they will be offering quick, expert-led training sessions for staff and students across the university to learn CPR, and how to use a defibrillator to give those having a sudden cardiac arrest a better chance of surviving. Training will take just 15 minutes and anyone taking part will receive an official Restart a Heart training certificate.

Chris Matthews, Course Leader for Paramedic Science BSc(Hons) and the event organiser, said: “Prompt and competent bystander CPR can more than double someone’s chance of survival – learn CPR and you could save a life. Let’s make this a university-wide movement. The 15 minutes you spend learning CPR on Wednesday could mean a lifetime for someone else.”

Each drop-in session provides essential practical skills and confidence, including:

• The official British Heart Foundation 15-minute interactive training.

• Hands-on practice with specialist manikins.

• Expert support from student paramedics and advanced educators.

Joining students and staff will be representatives from the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS).

This isn't the first time the university and KSS have collaborated on CPR training. In February this year, students and staff took part in a 24-hour CPR Marathon raising £5k for the charity.

Every year the Restart a Heart campaign takes place in October to raise awareness of cardiac arrest and the importance of learning CPR. The initiative is led by Resuscitation Council UK, supported by British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross, St John Ambulance, the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, NHS England, Save a Life for Scotland, Save a Life Cymru, and Northern Ireland Ambulance.

Staff related to this story

Senior Lecturer – School of Education, Sport and Health

Care, Health and Emotional Wellbeing