New figures suggest Scots youngsters are leading in lifesaving CPR skills

Dad saved by his children urges others to learn vital skill   with BHF this Heart Month

Scots are leading the way in CPR with 71 per cent having learned the skills to save a life, compared to over half (57 per cent) of respondents across the UK. 

New figures released today by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland, show even more – 82 per cent – in the 16-26 age group (Gen Z) know how to perform CPR. Half (50 per cent) of this age group have learned the vital skill in school. 

Almost all respondents who have learnt CPR in locations other than school (98 per cent)1 believe it is important that CPR be taught in schools. 

The figures have been revealed as the medical research charity calls on the whole nation to learn CPR during Heart Month in February, with the message to help protect the heart of someone you love.

With around 80 per cent of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happening in the home, you’re often likely to perform CPR on a loved one.     

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Despite the success in Scotland, a survey carried out for the BHF by Censuswide, also suggests an alarming number of households in Scotland still don’t have anyone who knows how to perform CPR.

Of those respondents who answered that they hadn’t learnt CPR, just over half (51 per cent) said that no-one in their household had learnt the lifesaving skill.    

The survey also found generational differences in CPR awareness in Scotland:    

·                Gen Z (age 16-26) is best trained in CPR, with 82 per cent having learnt, compared to 75 per cent of Millennials (age 27-42), 67 per cent of the Gen X generation (age 43-58) and 65 per cent of the baby boomer (age 59-77) generation.  

·                95 per cent of Scots believe that learning CPR is important1, yet only 49 per cent of respondents could pick the correct first step of CPR – making sure it’s safe to approach and checking for a response from an unconscious person.   

There are over 3100 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in Scotland. Tragically, just one in ten people survive, a statistic the BHF Scotland is determined to improve by giving everyone the opportunity to learn CPR.     

Performing immediate PR and defibrillation in the event of a cardiac arrest can be the difference between life and death.     

The charity’s free and innovative online training tool RevivR can teach CPR and the correct steps of defibrillator use in just 15 minutes. Quick CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival.    

Learning CPR came second only to budgeting, in a list of important life skills1

Q: How important, if at all, do you think it is to learn the below life skills? 

Learning to budget 98% 
Learning CPR 95% 
Learning to disinfect a cut 94% 
Learning to do laundry 92% 
Learning to use a washing machine 91% 
Learning to change a light bulb 88% 
Learning to change a tyre 85% 
Learning DIY 81% 

Michael’s story 

A group of people in matching sweaters

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The Welsh family celebrate Christmas 2023

In the early hours of 2 January last year, Alison Welsh, from Broughty Ferry, Dundee was woken by the sound of husband Michael, 55, making a terrible noise. 

“I thought he was snoring but when I turned round, he was purple and staring at me. I screamed for the children, who ran through, we got him off bed and started CPR immediately,” she recalls. 

Her son Christopher, now 30, took the lead, beginning CPR, assisted by sister Rachel, 23, and his girlfriend Chloe, 27, who was staying at the house. All three had been members of their university canoe clubs, where they’d learned to do CPR. 

“While I was on the phone to the ambulance the three of them just took over,” adds Alison. “They were incredible, taking it in turns when they got tired. Without them, Michael would not be here today. There are genuinely no words to express what my children did to save their dad, and how amazing they are. Every day we wake up thankful that he is here.” 

Michael has not had any problems since the episode but now has a defibrillator fitted to monitor his heart rhythm and to deliver a shock if a dangerous, abnormal heart rhythm is detected. 

He says: “Learning CPR is a simple activity that can mean the difference between life and death. I was one of the lucky ones, thankfully people were around who knew what they were doing.”  

1’Very important’ and ‘Quite important’ answers combined  

   

MSP backs lifesaving CPR campaign to mark Heart Month

Foysol Choudhury MSP is urging people across Lothian to show their support for the British Heart Foundation this Heart Month, by helping to save and improve the lives of those affected by heart and circulatory diseases.  

From learning lifesaving CPR to “Going Red” to support ground-breaking research, the BHF hopes to inspire the nation to get involved and join the campaign this February. 

There are around 3,100 cardiac arrests out of hospital in Scotland every year but sadly just one in ten people survive. However, early CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival. 

This Heart Month, the BHF is encouraging everyone to learn CPR using its first-of-a-kind tool, RevivR, which helps the public learn this lifesaving skill for free in just 15 minutes – and all that is needed is a mobile phone and a firm cushion.  

RevivR teaches how to recognise a cardiac arrest, gives feedback on chest compressions and outlines the correct steps of defibrillator use, giving anyone the confidence to step in and save a life in the event of the ultimate medical emergency.​ 

Foysol Choudhury MSP said: “This is such an important campaign and I’m delighted to support it. A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time and knowing what to do in those crucial moments could be the difference between life and death. We need more people to know CPR in our communities and the BHF’s RevivR tool makes it easy. It’s free, simple to follow and in 15 minutes you will learn how to become a lifesaver.” 

Alongside learning CPR with RevivR, the BHF is also encouraging supporters to “Go Red” this Heart Month to help fund groundbreaking research into heart and circulatory diseases, which affect around 700,000 people in Scotland. The BHF is currently funding more than £50 million of research in Scotland – research that is funded entirely by donations from the public.  

David McColgan, Head of BHF Scotland, said: “We’re delighted Foysol Choudhury MSP is backing the BHF’s Heart Month campaign, working together with us to help save and improve more lives from heart and circulatory diseases. 

“CPR could be the most important lesson you ever learn. With RevivR, it only takes 15 minutes – that’s a coffee break, half time in the football or the time you might spend scrolling through social media. It could help you save a life.” 

“Our BHF-funded scientists are also working to find the breakthroughs to help those affected by heart and circulatory diseases. Over the last 60 years, research has turned ideas that once seemed like ‘science fiction’ into reality. By going red and supporting the BHF this Heart Month, you will be helping to fund vital research that makes a real difference and helps to keep families together for longer.” 

To find out more – bhf.org.uk/heartmonth #HeartMonth