Hertfordshire charity urges public to learn CPR for Restart a Heart Day
A paramedic-led charity are promoting life-saving skills and increased access to defibrillators in a bid to improve survival rates for cardiac arrests
A charity in Hertfordshire is calling on the public to learn CPR and understand how to use defibrillators as part of the annual "Restart a Heart Day" campaign. The Hearts for Hearts charity, chaired by Justin, a paramedic, has been at the forefront of delivering free CPR courses across the county, aiming to equip more people with the knowledge to act in emergency situations.
With over 100,000 cardiac arrests occurring in the UK every year, Justin stressed the importance of learning these life-saving skills. “The most important thing you can do is perform CPR and use a defibrillator,” he said, noting that many individuals still hesitate due to a lack of training or fear of doing it incorrectly. According to recent data, 56% of adults in the UK do not know how to perform CPR.
The charity also focuses on increasing the number of publicly accessible defibrillators across Hertfordshire. “Defibrillators are completely safe,” Justin explained, “they will not shock someone unless it is necessary, and they are designed to be easy to use, with step-by-step instructions provided.” Hearts for Hearts is working closely with communities to ensure defibrillators are available 24 hours a day, especially in high-footfall areas. The charity recently installed a new defibrillator and a bleed control kit at Welwyn Garden City Crematorium, which is registered with the ambulance service and accessible at all times.
“Cardiac arrests don’t wait for office hours,” Justin added, emphasising the importance of having these devices readily available. The charity aims to ensure that no one is more than 200 metres away from a defibrillator in public spaces.
As part of their ongoing efforts, Hearts for Hearts is encouraging businesses, charities, and organisations to consider installing defibrillators and to register them with the national circuit, which helps ambulance services direct people to the nearest available device in an emergency. “If anyone is thinking of installing a defibrillator, we’re here to support them,” Justin said. “The more we have registered, the more lives we can save.”
Restart a Heart Day takes place every year to raise awareness of the importance of CPR and to highlight the critical role of defibrillators in saving lives. The charity will continue to run its free Heartstart courses across Hertfordshire and urges anyone interested in learning CPR to get in touch.