Civil Defence Volunteers participate in ‘World Restart A Heart Day’

18 October 2018

Civil Defence Volunteers participated in the ‘World Restart A Heart’ initiative in a number of venues around the country on Tuesday 16th October as part of the inaugural World Restart A Heart Day, sponsored by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), aimed to promote bystander CPR worldwide. Civil Defence personnel were partnered with the HSE National Ambulance Service, HSE resuscitation training officers and other CPR providers to reinforce the idea that Hands-Only CPR is simple and effective and can be performed by anyone. Higher bystander CPR rates have been linked to greater survival rates after a cardiac arrest.

This awareness day focused on Hands-Only CPR training and the importance of immediate action to help save more lives from cardiac arrest globally. Global bystander CPR rates vary between five and 80 percent. Research shows that CPR, especially if performed immediately, can double or triple a cardiac arrest victim’s chance of survival. Many people who are not trained don’t perform CPR because they don’t know what to do or they are afraid of hurting the person. In the event of a cardiac arrest, the HSE National Ambulance Service advises following these three steps. Step 1: Check for responsiveness. Step 2: Call112/999. Step 3: Push hard and fast in the centre of the chest until help arrives.

Restart a Heart Day was founded with the support of the European parliament. This is the first year that the campaign will be a worldwide initiative, adding the global designation to the campaign name.

For more information, visit HSE Restart A Heart

Photos from Restart A Heart