Graeme Souness wants football fans to learn CPR after it was revealed that more than half of Britons don’t know how.
The football legend – who was diagnosed with coronary heart disease in his early thirties – knows how vital CPR can be, which is why he has teamed up with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) on its new campaign.
A new survey of 2,000 UK adults shows that nearly half of Britons know someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest, while one in five people have been in a situation where they needed to perform CPR.
Graeme, a long-time ambassador for the charity, said ‘if every football fan in the UK did the 15-minute session to learn CPR it could be a game-changer for survival rates’.
‘CPR may be the most important lesson you ever learned. Having been diagnosed with coronary heart disease at age 33, it really could happen to anyone,” he said.
‘With RevivR, in just 15 minutes – the duration of the break – you’ll have the skills to save a life. Every fan of every football club in the country can make a difference, so please join BHF today and let’s come together to create a new team of lifeguards.’
There are over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year, yet less than one in 10 people survive.
Early CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of surviving cardiac arrest. Metro.co.uk exclusively told the story of Nicky Lack last week, who saved her husband’s life after he encouraged her to train as a first aider.
Following soccer player Christian Eriksen’s on-field cardiac arrest at Euro 2020, the survey also found that nine out of 10 fans were eager to learn how to perform CPR, yet a staggering 45% of the population admitted they would not be able to spot the signs. of cardiac arrest.
Former Liverpool FC captain and commentator Graeme Souness, 69, recently stunned Tooting and Mitcham United FC by putting players to the test with a pitchside CPR training session using the game’s free online tool RevivR. BHF.
Shin guards that included simple CPR instructions were also given to players as a reminder during the press.
The shin guards are part of a British Heart Foundation trial that could be rolled out across the country.
Symptoms of a cardiac arrest
According to the British Heart Foundation, a cardiac arrest usually happens without warning. If someone is in cardiac arrest, they suddenly collapse and:
- will be unconscious
- will not answer
- Will not be breathing or breathing normally – not breathing normally could mean they are making wheezing noises
Without immediate treatment or medical attention, the person will die. If you see someone going into cardiac arrest, call 999 immediately and start CPR.
Graeme told the team about his own experience with coronary heart disease after the diagnosis left him wondering, ‘How could this happen to me?’
While coaching Liverpool FC, the football star underwent a triple heart bypass in what he describes as an “extremely vulnerable” experience.
The Doctor. Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the British Heart Foundation, said: ‘As a nation of football lovers, we are delighted to have the support of game legend Graeme Souness to encourage fans to learn life-saving CPR.
“A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any age. If every fan across the country took 15 minutes to learn CPR with RevivR, it could mean the difference between life and death.’
RevivR means anyone can learn CPR – and all you need is a cell phone and a pad.
It teaches how to recognize cardiac arrest, provides feedback on chest compressions, and describes the correct steps to use a defibrillator, giving anyone the confidence to help with the ultimate medical emergency.
The BHF is now asking all football fans to grab a phone, pad and 15 minutes to learn CPR in just one break. Learn more on the charity’s website.
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