14 November 2014
NHS Borders is embarking on a very exciting project with British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to ensure CPR training is available to all Borderers.
Approximately 22,000 people die in the UK every year following a cardiac arrest in their home. The statistic shows that:
- Three quarters of the Scottish public (76%) would not feel confident performing CPR on a family member or loved one, despite being most likely to see a cardiac arrest at home.
- Almost half (47%) would be deterred by the ‘fear of causing more harm than good’.
- Nearly four in ten (39%) people ‘lack the knowledge and skills to act’.
- Half of people admit that most people look for someone else to take the lead in emergency situations.
To improve these shocking survival rates, the BHF, with the support of the Resuscitation Council (RCUK), is urging people to join a national campaign to create a Nation of Lifesavers in which all young people and adults learn lifesaving CPR skills.
The ‘Nation of Lifesavers’ campaign, launched by the BHF on 16 October, is rolling out a new, quick and simple cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) training programme and hopes to save 5000 lives a year. The BHF has also reiterated its call to ensure all young people learn CPR at school and a commitment to running mass awareness CPR campaigns.
NHS Borders is the first health board in Scotland to commit to this innovative training programme. The programme will enable NHS Borders to become completely self-sufficient in teaching the three simple steps that could save a life: Call.Push.Rescue.
Marjory Burns, Director of BHF Scotland, said: “Our figures are a stark reminder that you’re most likely to witness a loved one suffer a cardiac arrest so it’s imperative that people learn CPR should they be faced with the worst in their own home. Too many lives are lost needlessly because people don’t have the basic CPR skills to act in life-threatening situations.
“The ‘Call. Push. Rescue’ message is simple to remember and by spreading this far and wide we’re determined to radically improve the country’s shocking survival rates. We need every school, workplace, community group and individual to be inspired to register for a free CPR training kit and join the Nation of Lifesavers and help make Scotland a safer place to live.”
She added: “We’re delighted to support NHS Borders’ commitment to providing Call. Push. Rescue.Training to all their staff.”
Sheena MacDonald, NHS Borders Medical Director met with Marjory Burns earlier today to promote this worthwhile initiative and said: “This easy to use CPR training is an excellent resource for us to promote to our staff and to the Scottish Borders public. We welcome this support from BHF Scotland and look forward to rolling this training out.”
(left to right) Rod McIntosh, NHS Borders Resuscitation Officer, Sheena MacDonald, NHS Borders Medical Director, Fiona Hall, NHS Borders Cardiac Specialist Nurse, Marjory Burns, Director of British Heart Foundation Scotland and Calum Campbell, NHS Borders Chief Executive
Calum Campbell, NHS Borders Chief Executive demonstrates how easy the new British Heart Foundation CPR training kit is to use.