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86% of people in the North
West would be reluctant to perform CPR on cardiac arrest victims
86% of people surveyed in the North West would
be reluctant to perform CPR on cardiac arrest victims, according to latest
statistics from the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
The BHF warns that a lack of public knowledge of CPR could be costing lives as
new research from the University of Warwick also finds that those who have been
trained in CPR are three times more likely to perform it.
The main reasons for reluctance to step in were fear of causing more harm than
good (48%) and lacking the skills and knowledge to perform CPR (40%). But
experts warn that the benefits of performing CPR far outweigh the risks, as
survival rates are almost zero if people collapse and get no support until
paramedics arrive. There are over 30,000 out of Hospital cardiac arrests every year in the UK, and
devastatingly less than 1 in 10 survive. But according to the BHF, if survival
rates matched those reported in Norway, where CPR is taught more widely, as many
as 5,000 lives could be saved.
Every minute without CPR or defibrillation can reduce a person's chance of
surviving a cardiac arrest by around 10%.
A survey of people in the North West found:-
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Only 43% would feel confident giving CPR to a stranger.
► By contrast, 74% would offer a stranger a seat
on the bus, and 82% would give directions to a stranger.
► Just 22% were able to identify the 2 signs of
a cardiac arrest, which are when someone is not breathing or not breathing
normally, and that they have collapsed and are unresponsive.
► The worrying figures have been released for Restart
A Heart Day; an annual day to increase awareness of the importance
of CPR.
The BHF, Resuscitation Council (UK), St John Ambulance, British Red Cross,
Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service (NWAS)
and all the UK NHS ambulance services along with Fire and Rescue services are
working together to train more than 150,000 young people across the UK in the
largest ever CPR training event of its kind.
Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation, said:-
"CPR may be the difference between life and death for hundreds of people every
year in the North West who suffer a cardiac arrest. Every second counts, and it
simply isn't enough to hope that someone who knows CPR is present.
We need everyone in the North West to learn this life saving skill to give them
the confidence to step in and give CPR when someone collapses after a cardiac
arrest.
That's why we are urging Secondary Schools across the UK to apply for our free
training kits and help create a Nation of Lifesavers."
Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:- "I am delighted to be part
of this year's Restart a Heart Day and look forward to learning CPR alongside
Greater Manchester School children while supporting the European campaign. The
more people that are trained in giving CPR and feel confident to step in and
help someone suffering from a cardiac arrest the better and it's thanks to the
likes of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and North West Ambulance
Service that even more people will today become life-savers, including myself."
David McNally, Community Engagement and Resuscitation Manager at NWAS, said:-
"Cardiac arrest kills people and the power to change this lies within our
communities.
Knowing what to do in an extreme emergency situation cannot be underestimated.
CPR skills are so simple to learn and they absolutely do save lives. We are
targeting Secondary Schools because children pick up new skills with ease and
can take them into adult life."
To help the BHF create a Nation of Lifesavers, or find out how you can teach CPR
in your School, workplace or community group visit:-
BHF.Org.UK/CPR.
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