Everyone can be a lifesaver

Fearghal McKinney, Head of BHF NI, outlines how the organisation’s new online tool is putting the power to save lives directly into people’s hands.

The power to save a life is in your hands – and on your phone.

Would you know what to do if a loved one, work colleague or even a complete stranger had a cardiac arrest in front of you?

We all hope it is something we will never come across ourselves, but sadly it happens all too often to many people.

There are around 1,400 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Northern Ireland each year and, unfortunately, less than one in 10 people survive.

Survival rates can be improved, however, by acting decisively when an emergency occurs.

It may sound like a terrifying and daunting experience but the power to save their life could be in your hands. Literally.

Performing CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation – when someone’s heart suddenly stops beating during a cardiac arrest dramatically increases their chances of survival.

Every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by up to 10 per cent.

Performing CPR and using a defibrillator can more than double someone’s chances of survival in many cases.

We have all seen it on TV and in films, we may have attended a training course in the past, but how many of us actually know how to do it, or would feel confident preforming it in an emergency situation?

It is a skill many people want to learn but, in this busy world, it often joins other things on the long list we never get around to.

I have no doubt many people would want to be equipped with this lifesaving skill but are unsure if they could do it.

The reality is that everyone can be a lifesaver.

As Head of the British Heart Foundation in Northern Ireland, I have been privileged to hear many inspiring stories of heroism. About how people faced with a sudden cardiac arrest have acted quickly and managed to save their lives.

Cardiac arrests can happen anywhere; in the home, on the street, or in the workplace.

These lifesavers I have encountered range from young to old and come from all walks of life but have one thing in common; the desire to save a life.

But there are other stories too. Unfortunately, all too often I also hear of lives lost to cardiac arrests and of the pain and grief their families, loved ones, and colleagues are left with.

The majority of out of-hospital cardiac arrests in Northern Ireland happen in the home. People going about their daily lives, at their jobs, or simply watching TV with family could be at risk from cardiac arrest. It could be anywhere.

At the British Heart Foundation, we have offered CPR training opportunities to help equip people to deal with such emergencies for many years. And now it has never been easier.

Taking the lifesaving power of CPR into your hands can now be done by a free interactive online training tool on your phone and it takes just 15 minutes.

RevivR, developed by the British Heart Foundation, offers simple, step-by step training on how to recognise a cardiac arrest and what to do if you encounter one.

It involves scanning a QR code which take you to the easy-to-follow instructions.

It is free to use and the training can be done anywhere. All that is needed is a phone or tablet, floor space and a firm cushion.

And that is it. In just 15 minutes you could learn the vital skills to allow you to save someone’s life.

We have taken this training tool to many places and trained thousands of people across Northern Ireland already.

“It may sound like a terrifying and daunting experience but the power to save their life could be in your hands. Literally.”

Increasingly we are seeing more and more businesses getting involved and wanting to offer this lifesaving training to employees.

Not only does this provide staff with the skills to help save a life should an emergency situation arise in the workplace, but also when they are at home with their families or out and about in their communities.

We have worked with Citi Group, one of Northern Ireland’s largest employers, at its offices in Belfast, pharmaceutical firm Almac in Craigavon, and Translink, to name a few.

We have also worked with law firms and business development groups, as well as a range of community and sporting groups to provide CPR training using our online tool.

These training sessions have proved to be very popular with employees, with hundreds signing up.

Those taking part have given a variety of reasons why they want to learn this lifesaving skill. Many because someone they know had a cardiac arrest and wanted to be ready in case such a situation ever arises.

Speaking to them at these sessions, I have heard experiences of loss and of hope.

Listening to people as they share their stories of what motivated them to come along and learn CPR is humbling. There is a genuine desire to help save lives.

And more and more companies are realising this. It is not merely an exercise in corporate social responsibility. It is so much more. It is literally putting the power to save lives in people’s hands.

We want to continue to build the community of lifesavers across Northern Ireland. There is a role for everyone in that; from community groups to international companies which employ thousands.

It all starts with a 15 minute training session and could mean a lifetime for someone else.

For more information on the work of the British Heart Foundation Northern Ireland contact 028 9053 8301