What is Restart a Heart?
Restart a Heart is an annual campaign led by Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK), with events running throughout October and Restart a Heart Day itself on 16 October. Its aim is simple: more people trained in CPR, so more people survive cardiac arrest.
This year RCUK has taken its training manikin, Resus Annie, on a six-city UK tour, visiting areas where people are less likely to survive. The final stops are Belfast on 27 October and Manchester on 29 October, so there's still time to get involved.
The numbers behind the campaign
According to Resuscitation Council UK:
• 115,000 people have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK every year
• Fewer than 1 in 10 survive
• 80% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home
• Bystander CPR can double a person's chance of survival
• There are around 123,080 defibrillators across the UK, yet many people don't know where their nearest one is or how to use it
Where you live matters too. Survival rates vary noticeably across the UK:
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Out of hospital cardiac arrest survival - 11.3% (approx. 1 in 9)
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Out of hospital cardiac arrest survival - 10.1%
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Out of hospital cardiac arrest survival - 9.5%
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Out of hospital cardiac arrest survival - 7.8%
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Out of hospital cardiac arrest survival - 7.8%
RCUK's research also shows that people in more deprived communities are less likely to receive bystander CPR, and people from ethnic minority backgrounds are less likely to have had CPR training.
Why CPR matters so much
Cardiac arrest is not the same as a heart attack. A heart attack is a blocked artery; a cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops pumping, and without help the person will die within minutes. An ambulance can't always arrive in time, so what happens in those first few minutes is down to whoever is standing nearby.
CPR keeps oxygen flowing to the brain until a defibrillator or paramedics arrive. You don't need to be perfect; you just need to start.
The basic steps of adult CPR
1. Check for danger, then check for a response: shout and gently shake the person.
2. Call 999 and put the phone on loudspeaker. The call handler will guide you.
3. Look for normal breathing. If it's absent or abnormal, start CPR.
4. Push hard and fast in the centre of the chest, about twice per second, and don't stop.
5. Get a defibrillator. The 999 call handler can tell you where the nearest one is. Switch it on and follow its instructions.
6. Keep going until help arrives or the person shows signs of life.
If you're trained in rescue breaths, give 30 compressions to 2 breaths. If not, hands-only CPR is absolutely fine.
What this means for employers
The Health and Safety (First-Aid) Regulations 1981 require employers to assess their first aid needs and provide adequate trained people and equipment. A defibrillator isn't a legal requirement for most workplaces, but it's increasingly seen as good practice, especially on larger sites, in public-facing businesses and where help may be slow to arrive.
It's also worth remembering that 80% of cardiac arrests happen at home. Every member of staff you train in CPR takes that skill home to their family.
Quick FAQs
When is Restart a Heart Day? 16 October each year, with events running throughout October.
What is the survival rate for cardiac arrest in the UK? Fewer than 1 in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
Can I hurt someone by doing CPR? Someone in cardiac arrest will die without help. Doing CPR gives them the best chance, and the 999 call handler will guide you