'Heartstart UK’ is a British Heart Foundation initiative that teaches people what to do in a life-threatening emergency, under the principle ‘simple skills that save lives.’ The training is free and is aimed at the public. Anyone from the age of ten can attend and learn the complete range of Emergency Life Support skills, including:
• assessing an unconscious person
• performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)
• dealing with choking
• serious bleeding
• helping someone that may be having a heart attack
The Service supports delivery of the ‘Heartstart UK’ through our Community Resuscitation Development Officers, who deliver the training to community members across Scotland in remote and rural areas as well as towns and cities.
Improving survival rates
Equipping community members to provide immediate lifesaving support when an emergency occurs improves the likelihood that the ambulance and medical support the person then receives will be effective - improving survival rates for serious conditions and preventing less severe health problems worsening. These sessions support community resilience in another important way, by including information and advice about how people can reduce their risk of heart disease and stroke.
Community First Responder volunteers
The Service also trains Community First Responder volunteers to deliver ‘Heartstart UK’ sessions in their local area. Increasing the number of Community First Responder volunteers who can teach others emergency life support skills in their communities is one of the actions of the Community Resilience strategy action plan.
Find out more about Heartstart