The team at ZOLL® recognizes the importance of heart health in maintaining long-term wellness. Please join us in celebrating World Restart a Heart Day on October 16th. Communities, organizations, and programs throughout the world will be helping to raise CPR and SCA awareness — and you should, too!
What Is World Restart a Heart Day?
Restart a Heart Day is an annual campaign to raise awareness about cardiac arrest and the importance of CPR training. The Restart a Heart Campaign (RSAH) was started by The Resuscitation Council as a regional day in the United Kingdom.
Since then, Restart a Heart Day has become World Restart a Heart Day. WRSAH is sponsored by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), which comprises representation from America, South Africa, Europe, Australia, Asia, and more.
Many organisational allies, including the British Heart Foundation, American Heart Association, Red Cross, British Red Cross, and the Resuscitation Council, join together on World Restart a Heart Day to increase public awareness of SCA and CPR courses.
Get Involved!
Unfortunately, there is still an alarming lack of awareness surrounding heart health and how to properly respond in the event of an emergency. Over a third (38%) of UK adults have never undertaken any form of training to learn essential CPR skills. While 34% are familiar with chest compressions, only 24% know how to use an AED.
For this year's World Restart a Heart Day, take the time to educate yourself and your community. Here's how:
Learn about SCA
Understanding what sudden cardiac arrest is and how to respond is critical for improving survival rates. SCA is an electrical disturbance in the heart that prevents it from beating properly. This reduces blood flow to the brain and causes loss of consciousness. Anyone is at risk for SCA – there are no warning signs, and it can strike even those with no history of heart problems.
The annual incidence of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in Europe is between 67 to 170 per 100,000 inhabitants.1 Administering CPR and defibrillation as soon as possible after the victim collapses can improve survival rates dramatically: Defibrillation within 3 to 5 minutes of collapse leads to survival rates of up to 70%.2
Learn CPR
It takes only one person administering CPR at the right time to help save a life during a cardiac arrest. When CPR is performed immediately and effectively, it can significantly increase a victim's chance of survival.
The European Resuscitation Council offers many CPR-related courses and kits that offer more guidance and information.
Learn About Defibrillation
Defibrillation is the act of delivering a controlled electric shock to the heart to help it resume a normal rhythm. One of the most common defibrillation machines is an automated external defibrillator (AED). A shock is not always needed, and an AED should be able to tell you if you need to administer one.
ZOLL offers many resources to help you learn more about defibrillation and get started in your AED journey.
Start your own event!
While this may sound like a daunting task, there are plenty of resources to make it easier. Talk to your organisation's HR or safety manager and petition to hold CPR training for your fellow employees. If you are affiliated with a school, suggest that the physical education teacher teach a class about CPR. Make it an event by inviting friends and family members to a group training session. You might be surprised at how much fun (and how informative) CPR training can be: It can truly be lifechanging!
Volunteer
Volunteering your time on World Restart a Heart Day is a great way to show your dedication to the cause. Organisations that support causes like WRSAH Day always welcome volunteers — and you will get the added benefit of giving back to your community.
The Red Cross and other local organisations offer volunteer opportunities. Join them and make the difference!
Spread the word!
The more people with knowledge of CPR and SCA, the more people are prepared to help save a life. Strive to make CPR and SCA knowledge a part of your community culture. There are plenty of ways to spread the message. Social media offers a powerful platform to amplify awareness around CPR and World Restart a Heart Day. By sharing educational content, personal stories, or even short videos demonstrating hands-only CPR, you can inspire your followers to learn and take action. Use hashtags like #WorldRestartAHeart, #CPRSavesLives, or #LearnCPR to connect with global campaigns and increase visibility. Whether it's a quick Instagram reel or a LinkedIn post highlighting your organisation's initiatives, every share contributes to building a more informed and prepared community.
Final Thoughts
Simply by reading this article, you're already a part of World Restart a Heart Day. Want to help even more? Learn CPR or refresh your skills and start spreading the word. Remember, the risk of cardiac arrest does not stop after October 16th, so it’s never too late to learn how to save a life.
With hard work, dedication, and enthusiasm, we can ensure that more people learn to help save a life in the event of cardiac arrest.
1 European Resuscitation Council. (2021). European Resuscitation Council Guidelines 2021. Resuscitation. Retrieved from https://cprguidelines.eu/assets/guidelines/European-Resuscitation-Council-Guidelines-2021-Ep.
2 Semeraro F, et al. Resuscitation. 2021;161:P90-97