Learn how to Restart a Heart with St John Ambulance in Devon

St John Ambulance volunteers in Devon will teach the public how to save lives this month, as part of the 2019 Restart A Heart campaign.

At a series of free sessions, people can learn how to help someone who has gone into cardiac arrest, via practical information on how to deliver cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and deliver shocks to the heart with a defibrillator.

Locations include:

    Plymouth Mosque, 112 North Road East – Wednesday October 16, 11am to 5pm
    St John Ambulance HQ, Collingwood Road, Dartmouth – Wednesday October 16 from 6.30pm to 8.30pm
    St John Ambulance HQ, Manaton Close, Exeter – Thursday October 17 from 8pm
    St John Ambulance HQ, Mountbatten House, Paignton – Thursday October 17 from 7.30pm to 9pm.

Details of many more locations across the South West are available online: www.sja.org.uk/restartaheart

The health charity's regional head of volunteering Steph Pavie, said: "Our volunteers in Devon are pleased to be participating again in this year's Restart a Heart campaign, making our local communities more resilient and inspiring community response to cardiac arrest emergencies.

"It is vital that as many people as possible learn how to deliver CPR and use a defibrillator because of the unpredictable nature of cardiac arrests."

Currently, fewer than one in 10 people1 in the UK survives a cardiac arrest out of hospital and St John Ambulance and its Restart a Heart partners want to change that.

Chances of survival double when someone gives immediate CPR and significantly increase further when a defibrillator is used.

Working with the Resuscitation Council and other partners, St John Ambulance's first aid demonstrations will contribute to an ambition of teaching as many people as possible these skills in October.

Steph added: "By ensuring that more people have these skills and are not afraid to use them if they find someone who has collapsed and is not breathing, we can hopefully increase the number of people ready to step forward and intervene.

"In the space of only an hour you can pick up these skills from us for free, so please make it a priority to find a Restart a Heart demo near to you and come along."

While Restart a Heart Day is on October 16, St John Ambulance's highly-trained adult first aiders and younger volunteers around the country have arranged demos throughout the month, giving people more opportunities to attend.

To join in the conversation on social media, search for the hashtag #RestartAHeart

For those looking for quick, easily accessible information, the free, highly-popular St John Ambulance app is available on smartphones, and the website – www.sja.org.uk – offers demo videos and lots of free advice.