Restart A Heart Day

Restart A Heart Day aims at educating the public on the importance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED) in emergency situations. The objective of this observance is to improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests, which currently stand at 10% in the United Kingdom. By encouraging widespread training and understanding of these life-saving practices, Restart A Heart Day promotes a collective effort to ensure that more lives can be saved in the future.

This important campaign was launched in Europe in 2013 by the European Resuscitation Council (ERC). In the United Kingdom, the event is led by the Resuscitation Council UK in collaboration with the British Heart Foundation, St John's Ambulance, British Red Cross, and a number of other organizations. The campaign targets schools in particular, with the British Heart Foundation offering free training kits to secondary schools across the UK. This coordinated effort guarantees that more people, especially young adults, gain essential life-saving skills and the confidence to act in times of crisis.

On Restart A Heart Day, participating organizations and institutions across the United Kingdom hold various events and activities to create awareness and teach practical skills. These activities include mass CPR training sessions, hands-on workshops, and demonstrations of how to use an AED effectively. Restart A Heart Day is observed annually on the 16th of October, encouraging communities to unite and learn how to save lives together.