16 October is European Restart a Heart Day, which aims to teach members of the public across Europe vital life-saving skills. This is the second year the European Resuscitation Council has held European Restart a Heart Day and it promises to be bigger and better than ever.
The campaign revolves around four key principles: Call, Pump, Shock and Smile. Humberside Fire and Rescue Service (HFRS) is getting involved across the region with a wide range of activities.
In Grimsby, Public Safety Advocates along with operational personnel will be offering training in Freshney Place shopping centre where they will be giving some ‘hands on’ demonstrations of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and basic life support (BLS).
The public can also receive training at Tesco on Victoria Street throughout the day. At Cromwell Road Community Fire Station volunteers from Street Angels, Harbour Place, Freshney Place and the general public can attend two Heartstart courses.
Similar activities are planned in North Lincs as teams will be out opposite in Scunthorpe town centre. Staff can be found opposite NatWest on High Street giving CPR demonstrations and BLS training between 10.00am and 4.00pm. Look out for the fire engine – you won’t be able to miss them!
On a wider basis, proceeds from Rescue Day 2015 and the Xtreme Challenge at 7 Lakes have been used to fund 12 Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) which will enable every fire station in both North and North East Lincolnshire to be fitted with a defibrillator as well as provide additional ones for the communities of Crowle and Ealand.
Fire stations at Winterton, Kirton in Lindsey and Crowle will be open on Friday 16 October for members of the community to learn about the excellent work done with East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS). The Emergency First Responder vehicles based in those villages have been operative since April and have attended hundreds of medical incidents since then. Trained first responders will be on station during the day to tutor locals in life saving skills. Winterton will be open 12-2 and will be holding more sessions in November.
The day will be rounded off with a session at Epworth Fire Station from 5pm-7pm as part of CPR and BLS training being held every Wednesday throughout October.
Beverley will be the ‘beating heart’ of East Riding activity. Fire service staff will be supporting Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) to teach secondary school children how to perform life-saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills. This was first done last year when around 11,000 children were trained. The target this year is to reach 15,000 children in a single day and with nearly 100 schools already signed up across Hull and East Riding, hopes are high to smash this number.
During the day Beverley Fire Station on New Walkergate will throw open its doors to the public. Dozens of local shops have been leafleted and demonstrations outside Wilkos on Cross Street will then direct those interested in learning CPR and basic life support back to the fire station. The Emergency First Response car and other appliances will be on show at the station which is open from 9.00am to 3.00pm.