Oxfordshire resuscitation expert says every second counts, yet many bystanders feel unprepared to act
Around 40,000 people in the UK suffer a sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospital every year
Last updated 6th Mar 2025
A resuscitation expert from Oxford says every second counts, yet many bystanders feel unprepared to act, as research finds nearly one in three people say they wouldn't know what to do if someone was unconscious and not breathing normally.
Approximately 40,000 people in the UK suffer a sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospital every year, with survival rates of less than one in 10.
"We're very much working towards a nation of lifesavers"
New research has found that nearly two thirds (62%) of Brits would like to know how to perform CPR, highlighting how the need for accessible, life-saving education has never been more urgent.
Additionally, 94% agree that CPR training is crucial, yet 31% of people admit they would not know what to do.
Defibrillators can double the chances of survival, but 42% of people said they would feel uncomfortable using one.
Adam Benson-Clarke, from Oxford is Deputy Director of Clinical and Service Development at Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK), he said: “Around 80% of cardiac arrests will happen at home in an out of hospital environment. So, it means it's going to be someone you know, maybe a family member, maybe a friend.
“Every second counts. So, the sooner you can start CPR, we increase the chance of survival for these individuals.”
He added: "We're very much working towards a nation of lifesavers, so that everybody will have the lifesaving skills.”
To give more people the confidence to act in those critical moments, RCUK has announced the reopening of its highly popular Community Grant Scheme, following a resounding response during its first year.
The initiative offers grants of up to £1,500, is open to small charities with an annual income of less than £500,000, as well as community and faith groups across the UK.
It aims to bolster the number of people trained in life-saving CPR and defibrillator use.
Resuscitation Council UK has doubled the number of organisations eligible for funding. The charity's funding will specifically target underserved areas, where lower bystander CPR rates coincide with higher incidences of cardiac arrest.
Mr Benson Clarke said: “If you come from deprived areas and certainly from some ethnic background groups, you're less likely to be familiar with CPR or have access to training.
“Conversely, you're more likely to be witness to it. So, you're more like to know somebody who's required resuscitation.
“We want to encourage individual faith groups and community groups to really learn or have the opportunity to learn bystander CPR and safe use of a defibrillator.”