Worcestershire charity joining calls to continue highlighting the importance of learning CPR
Heartstart Malvern have trained over 7,500 people in the community and is shining a spotlight on how crucial the lifesaving skill is throughout today's Restart a Heart Day
A Worcestershire charity which has taught thousands of people of all ages how to deliver cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) has said it's vital its mission continues to train more.
It comes as today (16 October) is the annual Restart a Heart Day, which aims to bring awareness to the importance of knowing how to perform lifesaving skills.
Heartstart Malvern was set-up in 2017, and has since trained CPR to over 7,500 people, including in schools, with 39 defibrillators also being installed across the community by them.
In the UK, it is estimated that the survival rate for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests is less than one in 10, chairman of Heartstart Malvern Richard Vakis-Lowe said this needs to be higher.
"It should be nearer to sort of 40-50%," he said.
"We'll only achieve that figure though if more people can learn CPR and they can have access to a defibrillator.
"So the difference of knowing how to do CPR and how to use a defibrillator will really make a difference to whether that person survives A cardiac arrest or not."
New research from a survey which was done for St John Ambulance ahead of Restart a Heart Day has revealed three in 10 men would hesitate performing CPR because of concerns that they would be accused of inappropriate touching.
Mr Vakis-Lowe said he is aware the training they've provided has saved lives, and it is crucial people recognise the importance of delivering it and are given that understanding so they don't hesitate if something happens.
"It's a very simple skill to learn," he said.
"With CPR, you can't do any damage, anything you can do when somebody's collapsed is better than nothing.
"The easy part is using the defibrillator because once you turn the defibrillator on, it'll tell you what to do, lights will flash, and it certainly won't let you shock somebody that doesn't need shocking.
"So it's a very simple skill, but unfortunately it's one that people will put off learning."
He added, the charity is holding its usual sessions throughout today to get people in and learning CPR at the Malvern Theatres, and for its 10th anniversary next year it's aiming to have trained a total of 10,000 people.
Further information on CPR can be found on the St John Ambulance website.