ST John Ambulance volunteers are once again providing free demonstrations of life-saving skills as part of the annual Restart a Heart campaign.

While Restart a Heart Day is on Saturday, October 16, St John’s highly trained volunteers have arranged demos in locations around the Island to give people opportunities to attend and learn essential first aid skills.

People on the Island can attend the following demonstrations by St John volunteers:

16 October – 9.30am to 4.30pm, Tesco, Ryde

16 October – 9.30am to 4.30pm, St Thomas’ Square, Newport

21 October – 7pm to 9pm, St John Ambulance HQ, Dodnor Park, 12 Manners View, Newport

23 October – 9.30am to 4.30pm, Tesco, Ryde.

Each session is free to attend and includes practical information on how to understand the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack, how to give cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and how to deliver shocks to the heart with a defibrillator.

Bystander CPR rates fell in some areas of the UK during the Covid pandemic.

This year’s campaign aims to resume training, restore confidence in performing CPR and using a defibrillator, and reach people who have found it challenging to access training resources.

St John Ambulance wants to ensure that everyone has a chance to learn CPR - and that those having a sudden cardiac arrest have their best chance of survival.

Dr Lynn Thomas, Medical Director at St John Ambulance, said: “We didn’t have to ask our volunteers twice about supporting this year’s Restart a Heart campaign.

“They are keen, especially after the last 18 months, to get back out there, face-to-face, or online, and upskill their friends, families, and neighbours in these vital first aid techniques.

“A cardiac arrest can happen any time and without warning so ensuring that people have that knowledge when confronted with a heart-related emergency is vital and increases the chances of saving a life.

“Coupled with this, we are concerned that as many members of the public as possible regain the confidence to deliver bystander CPR to casualties when they are most in need of support.”

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