WE COULD save 100 lives a week - or over 5,000 a year - if CPR was taught in schools, Yorkshire Ambulance Service has claimed.

Currently, less than one in ten (8.6 per cent) people survive a cardiac arrest in the UK. This is in contrast to Norway, where the figure stands at 25 per cent - and where CPR is taught in schools.

The claims come as Yorkshire Ambulance Service celebrates a decade of providing life-saving CPR training to students across the region on Restart a Heart Day.

Registration will open on Tuesday, February 14 for the county’s secondary schools to take part in the anniversary event on Monday, October 16.

Since the event began in 2014, Yorkshire Ambulance Service has taught CPR to 202,529 students during 881 school visits thanks to staff and volunteers, who have given 33,613 hours.

Jason Carlyon, Community Engagement Manager, said: “To think we are preparing for our 10th annual Restart a Heart Day is incredible.

“The event has undoubtedly become a firm favourite with our staff and volunteers, who are so generous with their time.

“There have been many highlights over the years, from seeing footballer Fabrice Muamba reunited with one of his life-savers in our first year at Fulford School in York.

“Ultimately, it’s priceless hearing the many stories of people whose lives have been saved thanks to bystander CPR, and particularly rewarding to learn about those we have taught on Restart a Heart Day who have used their skills to give someone a fighting chance of survival.”

Results of a study among students who took part in last year’s training revealed that the life-saving lesson led to 83.64 per cent of them being able to identify someone in cardiac arrest – 42.25 per cent increase from pre to post-training.

86.82 per cent also said they were confident in performing chest compressions – a 43.97 per cent increase.

Supported by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity, the event is delivered in partnership with the Resuscitation Council (UK), British Heart Foundation (BHF) and St John Ambulance.

Secondary schools can register for Restart a Heart Day 2023 by completing the form at https://survey.yas.nhs.uk/s/Restart-a-Heart-Day-SchoolRegistration-2023/ before the closing date on Friday 21 April.

For more information visit, https://restartaheart.yas.nhs.uk/ or email yas.restartaheart@nhs.net