Ex-Wolves boss Glenn Hoddle amongst football legends backing campaign encouraging others to learn CPR
CPR saved his life after having a cardiac arrest five years ago.
Football stars including ex-Wolves boss and England player Glenn Hoddle are backing a campaign to get others to learn CPR.
Fewer than one in 10 people who have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) survive because those around them lack knowledge of CPR, according to data from the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
Glenn suffered a cardiac arrest more than five years ago but was saved by Simon Daniels who was working in his studio.
The "Every Minute Matters" campaign with the British Heart Foundation aims to recruit 270,000 people to learn the skill to reduce deaths.
There are more than 30,000 OHCA in the UK each year, which equates toat least five every 90 minutes. Without CPR, the chances of survival decrease by 10% every minute.
Although many of us will witness a cardiac arrest in our lifetime, the BHF estimates that around 23 million UK adults have never learnt this life-saving skill.
In a bid to inspire the nation to learn vital CPR skills, the BHF is joining forces with Sky Bet and an inspiring line-up of footballers impacted by life-threatening heart conditions to urge more than a quarter of a million people – the equivalent of three Wembley Stadiums – to learn CPR over the next 12 months.
Former professional players David Ginola, Graeme Souness, Glenn Hoddle, Fabrice Muamba will join current players including Wigan striker Charlie Wyke and Derby County Defender Megan Tinsley in the ‘Re-Starting 11’ – an inspiring team of ambassadors who will unveil the ‘Every Minute Matters’ campaign at Wembley stadium.
The ‘Re-Starting 11’ - which will also feature football fans who have either survived a cardiac arrest or saved someone’s life - will play a critical role in helping give Brits the confidence and skills to tackle the ultimate medical emergency in the largest recruitment drive of its kind.
Every Minute Matters will urge everyone to take just 15 minutes – the length of the half-time interval – to learn CPR with RevivR, the BHF’s free and easy to use digital tool.
The simple course requires no medical experience and can be completed with just a mobile phone and a cushion to practice on. Indeed, on completion 97% of people say they feel confident enough to perform CPR and use a defibrillator.