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Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrests

At the BHF, we are working to improve people’s chances of surviving a cardiac arrest. Find out more about the ways we contribute towards the accessibility of defibrillators and CPR training.

In the UK there are over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCA) a year where emergency medical services attempt to resuscitate the victim. However, the survival rate is low – less than 1 in 10 people in the UK survive an OHCA.

The Circuit

The BHF is working to improve peoples’ chances of surviving a cardiac arrest by working with the NHS, the Ambulance Service and Microsoft to create The Circuit– a national network of defibrillators. The Circuit will link a UK-wide network of defibrillators to every ambulance service in the country and the public in a bid to help save more lives from OHCA.

Early CPR and defibrillation can double the chances of surviving an OHCA. Through a network of defibrillators, those having a cardiac arrest, bystanders and ambulance services will all be better connected.

CPR on the school curriculum

The BHF has been instrumental in ensuring that children are taught life saving CPR skills in school. Thanks to years of tireless campaigning alongside other organisations to get first aid and CPR onto the curriculum, first aid and CPR were added to the secondary school curriculum in England in September 2020, although schools have been given until the end of the school year to introduce training due to added pressures resulting from the  coronavirus pandemic.

Each of Scotland’s 32 local authorities have also pledged to ensure that every secondary pupil will now leave school having been trained in life saving CPR. In Wales, first aid and lifesaving skills are now also recommended in the Guidance for Schools that will accompany the implementation of the new Curriculum for Wales.

Within the Northern Ireland curriculum, there are opportunities to learn CPR skills at both primary and secondary level. The 2014 Community Resuscitation Strategy for Northern Ireland recommended that all schools should be encouraged to provide CPR training to pupils twice during their school career: once while in primary school and once in post-primary education. BHF Northern Ireland are continuing to engage with the Northern Ireland Executive and the education sector to ensure that every child leaves school having been trained in life saving CPR.

See our other recent achievements

Some iPAD SP1 and iPAD SP1 AUTO defibrillators are being recalled by the manufacturer. If you’re the owner or guardian of a defibrillator, check if yours is affected as soon as possible.

Find out more