Restart a heart day: Resus team to hold 12-hour CPR-a-thon
Our Resuscitation (Resus) Department are holding a CPR-a-thon on 16 October in aid of Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity.
Members of our Resus team are raising money for Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals Charity through a CPR-a-thon this Restart a Heart Day.
- Team members will be doing 12 hours of CPR on a mannequin from 7am to 7pm on 16 October in the Main Atrium at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.
In addition to the fundraising effort, the Resus Department is passionate about teaching staff and members of the public this life-saving skill.
- There will be a station for members of the public to come along and learn CPR and AED (Defibrillator) use.
- Trust staff can also attend and get their Adult BLS practical mandatory training compliance updated (if needed).
No need to book, just turn up to the atrium.
Early CPR saves lives! Approximately 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen every year in the UK. Sadly, less than one in 10 people survive these cardiac arrests. Performing CPR can more than double the chances of survival in some cases.
Resuscitation & Simulation Officer Natasha Davy says: "For our CPR-a-thon, hospital colleagues will be performing continuous chest compressions on a mannequin for 12 hours.
"We're also aiming to awareness, teach CPR and build confidence so that more people will feel confident to perform CPR if they're ever in a situation when it's needed."
Martyn's story
Hospital Volunteer Martyn Ridge has first-hand experience of the life-saving power of CPR and has given the CPR-a-thon his full support. Martyn will be a familiar face to many visitors to GRH as he’s a welcome desk volunteer at our Tower reception.
In 2018, Martyn had an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest at Highnam Community Centre whilst attending a swing dance. He owes his life to the quick actions of his friends, who were CPR trained and started then maintained chest compressions until medical help arrived.
Martyn says: “I feel incredibly fortunate that my friends’ quick actions allowed me to survive this life-threatening experience. I know that many people are sadly not so lucky.
“These simple skills are something that anyone can learn and I urge everyone to take up the opportunity to really make a difference to someone in their hour of need. You never know when you might need them!”
About restart a heart day
Restart a heart day is an annual event that aims to raise awareness of how cardiac arrests can happen to anyone at any time, and increase the number of people trained in CPR.
Support the CPR-a-thon
Support the CPR-a-thon by donating on JustGiving, visit: www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/cpr-a-thon