BHF - New report claims First Aid skills could prevent 59% of deaths from injury

8 Sep 2016 01:21 PM

The ‘Don’t Stop at 999,’ report emphasises the life saving potential of bystander action before the emergency services arrive and calls for all children to be taught CPR in schools. 

The new research, commissioned by the British Red Cross, highlights cardiac arrest – where a person’s heart stops beating - as a medical emergency where witnesses can play a vital role in helping to increase a person’s chances of survival. 

The report echoes BHF’s ambition to create a Nation of Lifesavers and demonstrates the impact of ensuring that all children have access to CPR training whilst at secondary school.

Simon Gillespie, BHF Chief Executive said: “This report highlights the crucial need for bystanders to jump in and help when someone is involved in a medical emergency.  A cardiac arrest is the ultimate medical crisis and we need to ensure that every child is given the opportunity to learn vital CPR skills at school, to avoid lives being needlessly lost. 

“30,000 cardiac arrests happen out of hospital every year in the UK. That’s 30,000 opportunities to save a life.  

"Secondary schools can play a fundamental role in helping to create a Nation of Lifesavers, by giving all children the skills and confidence to save someone’s life.”

View report: 

http://www.redcross.org.uk/~/media/BritishRedCross/Documents/What%20we%20do/First%20aid/Are%20prehospital%20deaths%20from%20trauma%20and%20accidental%20injury%20preventable.pdf

Find out more about how your school could receive a free BHF Call Push Rescue kit and take part in Restart a Heart Day 2016.