EEAST and Peterborough United FC join forces to raise CPR awareness

Players from Peterborough United’s first team, women’s team and academy as well as Posh fans were taught CPR and the use of a defibrillator by EEAST’s staff and volunteers at an event at Peterborough United’s Weston Homes Stadium.

The aim of the partnership with Peterborough United and the Peterborough United Foundation is to encourage others to learn basic life support ahead of Restart a Heart Day on 16 October.

Learning vital life-saving skills, Peterborough United's players and staff were joined by the East of England Ambulance Service for an event for Restart a Heart Day

The hope is to create an army of lifesavers in Peterborough and across the East of England.

In the UK there are over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests a year where emergency medical services attempt to resuscitate the patient. For cardiac arrests outside of hospitals, fewer than 1 in 10 people survive.

With 80% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happening at home, learning CPR could mean helping a loved one’s chances of survival.

Like football, survival from a cardiac arrest is a team effort. Every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by 10%, demonstrating the significant impact a bystander can have by starting CPR early.

Liz Elsom, Club Director at Peterborough United, said:

“Firstly, I would like to thank all the volunteers who gave up their time to deliver the event. It is such an incredibly important life skill for everybody to have and it was great that we were able to have representation from so many different teams at the club.

“I think events like this are so important and we will be looking to make these part of our programme for all of our players across the Academy and first team, along with staff, and on a regular basis as well.”

Peterborough United striker Tara Kirk is shown CPR by emergency medical technician Holly Martin

Jenna Lusk, EDI Lead & Community Manager at Peterborough United Foundation, said:

“It has been incredible to work alongside the club, the Academy and the ambulance service to bring the CPR event to life. Knowing CPR can be the difference between life and death, it is essential that people feel confident to step in when it matters most.

“But the work at the Peterborough United Foundation goes beyond emergencies, through our programmes likes Healthy Habits, Healthy Lives, we are helping to prevent crises by promoting healthier, more active lifestyles. Together we are not just responding to emergencies, we are building for a healthier future for our community.”

Neill Moloney, Chief Executive of the East of England Ambulance Service, said:

“Every second counts with cardiac arrests and we are grateful to Peterborough United and its foundation for helping us reach a new audience.

“We are asking as many as the public as possible to learn CPR and basic life support skills as part of the annual Restart a Heart Day campaign.

“You never know when you may need to use those skills and you can be that vital first link in helping a patient have the best possible chance of surviving a cardiac arrest.”

EEAST and its partner organisations will be holding a series of CPR training events in and or around Restart a Heart Day on Wednesday 16 October.

For everything you need to know to become a lifesaver, visit www.resus.org.uk/rsah