Restart a Heart is held every October, where thousands of people across the UK, and many more worldwide, come together to increase public awareness of cardiac arrests and increase the number of people trained in life saving CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and defibrillator use. 

The initiative is led by Resuscitation Council UK alongside its partners – St John Ambulance, the British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross and Yorkshire Ambulance Service. UK Ambulance Trusts also join in to ensure as many people as possible are trained in lifesaving skills. 

This year, our focus is to resume training where possible (whilst adhering to COVID-19 guidelines), restore confidence in the public to administer CPR and to reach out to new and diverse audiences to enable them to learn CPR. 

Anyone can have a cardiac arrest at any time – and cardiac arrests haven’t stopped during COVID-19. 

When someone collapses and stops breathing normally, it is important to quickly call 999, perform hands-only CPR and use a defibrillator. Performing immediate CPR can help double the chance of survival in some cases. 

Hands-only CPR reduces the risk of catching an infection, and without intervention the person will quickly die. 

How you can get involved 

CPR can save a life, and anyone can learn how to do it. Gain the confidence to ‘get hands on’ and use safe, effective CPR. Join our volunteers at a local face-to-face session, attend a virtual awareness session or watch a demonstration at a local event. 

For more information about a Restart a Heart event, or if you would like to book onto a Virtual or Face-to-Face CPR and AED session, please contact community.engagement@sja.org.uk 

You can also watch and share the video from the Resuscitation Council to find out how to perform CPR safely during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further advice and learning are also available below.  

Use #AskMe and #RestartAHeart to share your story