A four-year-old and a participant in their 90s were among more than 900 people who stopped to learn about CPR at Victoria Station in London on Friday.
Everyone Active colleagues from Westminster’s leisure centres took CPR training out into the community on the station concourse on Friday 16 October to mark Restart a Heart Day, an annual initiative led by the Resuscitation Council UK that aims to give people the skills and confidence to respond if someone suffers a cardiac arrest.
In total, 910 commuters, travellers and families engaged with the team, either trying CPR on manikins or picking up information on how to help in an emergency. Among them were primary school children who joined in while waiting for their train home after a school trip.
Everyone Active manages Westminster City Council’s leisure centres through its Active Westminster service, including Queen Mother Sports Centre, which is located close to the station.
Using manikins, participants learned how to spot the signs of a cardiac arrest, give chest compressions and rescue breaths, with guidance on how to use a defibrillator.
Kyle Maundrell, Everyone Active contract manager for Westminster, said: “We were overwhelmed by the response at Victoria. To have people from a four-year-old to someone in their 90s taking part shows that it’s never too early or too late to learn CPR.
“Knowing what to do in those first few minutes of a cardiac arrest, until the emergency services arrive, can make a real difference, and I’m very proud of the team for helping so many people feel more confident to step in.”
The sessions followed Resuscitation Council UK guidance and were delivered by Everyone Active colleagues who are qualified National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) trainers, trained by the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK).
Anyone who would like to learn more about CPR can find free guidance on the Resuscitation Council UK website. https://www.resus.org.uk/
