Every year, thousands of lives are lost to sudden cardiac arrest - many of them preventable. The good news? You can be the difference between life and death. This World Restart a Heart Day, we’re shining a spotlight on the skills everyone should know: CPR and AED use.
World Restart a Heart Day is celebrated every October to raise awareness about sudden cardiac arrest and to teach life-saving skills to as many people as possible. The idea is simple: if more people know how to respond quickly, more lives can be saved.
Unlike many medical emergencies, cardiac arrest doesn’t wait for a hospital. Statistically most incidents happen at home, and every second matters. That means you could be the first, and most crucial responder to the emergency.
Here are some key facts on why CPR and AED skills are so critical:
30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen each year in the UK where emergency services attempt resuscitation. (Resuscitation Council)
70–80% of cardiac arrests happen at home, meaning the most likely responders are family or friends.
Bystander CPR is initiated in around 69% of cases, showing that awareness is improving.
Only 7.8% of patients survive to 30 days after out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, highlighting the urgency of immediate intervention.
Early CPR and AED use can increase survival rates dramatically, with some studies showing up to 50-70% survival when defibrillation occurs within 3-5 minutes of collapse.
These numbers aren’t just statistics - they’re a call to action. Knowing CPR and AED use could literally save a life.
CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is a combination of chest compressions and rescue breaths designed to keep blood and oxygen circulating until professional help arrives.
Here’s a simple guide anyone can follow:
Call out loudly for help and gently shake the person who has collapsed to see if they respond.
Check for signs of breathing by watching the rise and fall of their chest.
Put your phone on loudspeaker so you can use both hands. Tell the operator you’re with someone who is not breathing.
Interlock your fingers.
Place your hands in the centre of the person’s chest.
Push down hard and fast - about twice per second - allowing the chest to rise fully between compressions.
Keep going without stopping - The ambulance call handler will guide you through exactly what to do.
The ambulance call handler will tell you where the nearest AED is.
If someone else is with you, ask them to go and fetch it.
If you’re alone, do not leave the person — stay and continue CPR.
If you have access to an AED, switch it on and follow the voice instructions.
The defibrillator will tell you exactly what to do.
(You can visit our defibrillator information page to learn more.)
Keep performing CPR until:
The AED instructs you to pause while it analyses or delivers a shock.
A paramedic or medical professional arrives and takes over.
The person starts to show clear signs of life.
AEDs (automated external defibrillators) are simple, portable devices that deliver an electric shock to restart the heart when it has stopped in a shockable rhythm.
AEDs are designed for anyone to use - even untrained bystanders.
They give clear step-by-step instructions, guiding you through the process.
The faster an AED is applied, the higher the survival chance. Every minute counts!
Learn CPR: Training courses are often short, hands-on, and free or low-cost.
Know your nearest AED: Many public spaces have them, but your home or workplace may not. Maybe consider investing in one if you can.
Practice your response plan: Knowing where the phone, AED, and first aid kit are can save precious time.
Encourage your family, friends, and colleagues to also get training: The more people who know CPR, the higher the chance someone can act in an emergency.
It's simple: anyone can restart a heart. You don’t need to be a healthcare/medical professional to make a difference. Every second matters, every compression counts, and every skill learned is a potential life saved.
This World Restart a Heart Day, make a commitment to learn CPR, understand AED use, and be ready to act. You could be the reason someone gets a second chance at life.