Record-breaking Number of Schools Sign up for Restart a Heart Day

An incredible 121 secondary schools across Yorkshire are leading the way after signing up to receive life-saving training on European Restart a Heart Day.

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (YAS) staff and volunteers will visit schools on Tuesday 18 October 2016 to teach cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to more than 25,000 children in what will be the biggest event of its kind ever seen in the world.

YAS first delivered the mass training event in 2014 to mark the European Resuscitation Council’s Restart a Heart Day. Over the last two years YAS has provided CPR training to 31,000 youngsters at 137 secondary schools with support from the Resuscitation Council (UK), British Heart Foundation, St John Ambulance and other partner agencies.

This year’s event is set to exceed all expectations with the news that all 14 UK ambulance trusts will be working in partnership to host mass CPR training events on Restart a Heart Day so thousands more schoolchildren will receive a life-saving lesson on 18 October, not just in Yorkshire but nationwide. 

Jason Carlyon, Resuscitation Manager for YAS, said: “Every second counts when someone has a cardiac arrest and if a bystander immediately performs CPR, this can double the patient’s chances of survival.

“I’m incredibly proud that Yorkshire is leading the way and we have got the support of the other UK ambulance trusts to make the mass CPR training event even bigger. It will mean that tens of thousands more youngsters will be learning this vital skill on one day, not just in Yorkshire but around the UK.

“The majority of cardiac arrests happen in the home so by learning CPR, these youngsters could one day save the life of someone they love. There’s no better reason to learn than that.”

Of the 121 schools which have signed up:
• 21 are in East Yorkshire, 42 are in West Yorkshire, 24 are in South Yorkshire and 34 are in North Yorkshire
• 68 will be taking part in Restart a Heart Day for the first time
• 71 already have a defibrillator on site and of the 50 who don’t, 36 are interested in buying the life-saving kit.

All secondary schools are existing Heartstart schools, already teaching first aid including CPR, or they have signed up to receive a Call Push Rescue Training Kit from the British Heart Foundation, as part of its Nation of Lifesavers campaign. The initiative aims to teach vital CPR skills to all secondary school age children, giving the next generation the skills and confidence to save a life and increasing cardiac arrest survival rates across the UK. The kit has everything you need to learn CPR, including manikins and a tutorial DVD.

Simon Gillespie, Chief Executive of the British Heart Foundation, said: “Knowing what to do in the ultimate medical emergency of a cardiac arrest is vital - every second counts. What we have achieved in partnership with Yorkshire Ambulance Service over the past two years is a shining example, equipping thousands of young people with CPR skills that they will know for life. We hope that adults follow their example and also learn CPR skills so they too can act to help save someone’s life.

“We have already witnessed the life-saving potential that this event can have and there is no doubt that, with the scale and ambition of this year’s event, more lives will be saved as a result.

“Yorkshire Ambulance Service has really led the way by setting a precedent for other ambulance services to aspire to and we are delighted by its continued commitment to help the BHF create a Nation of Lifesavers.”

Dr Andy Lockey, Honorary Secretary of the Resuscitation Council, said: “The Resuscitation Council is fully supportive of Yorkshire Ambulance Service’s continuing efforts to train local schoolchildren in CPR. Their dedication to Restart a Heart Day is fantastic and we look forward to working with them to make this year’s event the best yet.”

St John Ambulance Regional Director, Simon Dunn, said: "As a charity that aims to teach as many people as possible life-saving first aid, we urge schools to take this chance for their students to learn vital CPR skills.

"Restart a Heart Day is an excellent event growing from strength to strength. As in previous years, scores of our first aid-trained volunteers will be signing up and proud to support it.”

Participating Schools

East Yorkshire 
Cambian Beverley School, Beverley
Beverley High School, Beverley
Bishop Burton College, Beverley
Cottingham High School, Hull
Focus School, Cottingham Campus, Cottingham
Headlands School, Bridlington
Hessle High School, Hessle
Howden School , Howden 
Hull College Group, Hull
Hull Trinity House Academy, Hull
Hymers College , Hull
Malet Lambert School, Hull
Newland School for Girls, Hull
Pocklington School, York
Sir John Nelthorpe School, Brigg
Sirius Academy North, Hull
Sirius Academy West, Hull
South Holderness Technology College, Hull
The Boulevard Centre, Hull
Wilberforce College, Hull
Wyke 6th Form College, Hull

North Yorkshire 
Archbishop Holgate's School, York
Barlby High School, Selby
Bedale High School, Bedale
Bootham School, York
Brayton High School, Selby
Cundall Manor School, York
Focus School, York Campus, York
Fulford School, York
Holy Family Catholic High School, Carlton, Goole
Malton School, Malton
Northallerton School and Sixth Form College, Northallerton
Queen Ethelburgas College, York
Queen Margaret's School, York
Richmond School, Richmond
Ripon Grammar School, Ripon
Risedale Sports and Community College, Catterick Garrison
Saint Francis Xavier, Richmond
Scarborough Pupil Referral Service, Scarborough
Scarborough Sixth Form College, Scarborough
Selby College, Selby
Selby High School, Selby
Settle College, Settle
Sherburn High School, Sherburn in Elmet
Skipton Girls' High School, Skipton
South Craven School, Keighley
St Augustine's School, Scarborough
St Peter's School, York
Tadcaster Grammar School, Tadcaster
Terrington Hall School, York
The Minster School, York
The Read School, Selby
The Skipton Academy, Skipton
Thirsk School & Sixth Form College, Thirsk
York High School, York

South Yorkshire 
Al-Mahad Al-Islami, Sheffield
Ash Hill Academy, Doncaster
Aston Academy, Sheffield
Balby Carr Community Academy, Doncaster
Bradfield School, Sheffield
Darton College, Barnsley
Dearne Valley College, Rotherham
Dinnington High School, Sheffield
Ecclesfield school, Sheffield
Handsworth Grange Community Sports College, Sheffield
King Edward VII , Sheffield
Maple Medical Pupil Referral Unit, Doncaster
Notre Dame High School, Sheffield
Oak Tree High School, Sheffield 
Rotherham Aspire Pupil Referral Unit, Rotherham
Saint Pius X Catholic High School, Rotherham
Sir Thomas Wharton Community College, Doncaster
South Axholme Academy, Doncaster
Stocksbridge High School, Stocksbridge
The Dearne ALC, Rotherham
The Hayfield School, Doncaster
The Rowan Centre PRU, Rotherham
Thomas Rotherham College, Rotherham
Westfield School, Sheffield

West Yorkshire 
All Saints Catholic College, Huddersfield
Batley Grammar School, Batley
BBG Academy, Cleckheaton
Buttershaw Business and Enterprise College, Bradford
Calder High School, Halifax
Calderdale Pupil Referral Unit, Halifax
Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School, Leeds
Carlton Bolling College, Bradford
Castleford Academy, Castleford
Cathedral Academy, Wakefield
Fulneck School, Leeds
Gateways School, Leeds
Hemsworth Arts and Community Academy, Hemsworth
Highfield School, Wakefield
Hipperholme Grammar School, Halifax
Honley High School, Holmfirth
Institute of Islamic Education, Dewsbury
Jaamiatul Imaam, Clayton, Bradford 
Kirklees College, Huddersfield
Moor End Academy, Huddersfield
New College Pontefract, Pontefract
Ossett Academy, Ossett
Prince Henry’s Grammar School, Otley
Pudsey Grangefield School, Leeds
Queensbury School, Bradford
Rastrick Independent School, Brighouse
Rodillian Academy, Wakefield
Silcoates School, Wakefield
St John Fisher Catholic Voluntary Academy, Dewsbury
The Crossley Heath School, Halifax
The Elland Academy, Leeds
The Featherstone Academy, Pontefract
The Grange School, Ossett
The Halifax Academy, Halifax
The South Leeds Academy, Leeds 
The Springfield Centre , Wakefield
Upper Batley High School, Batley
Wakefield City Academy, Wakefield
Wakefield Girls' High School, Wakefield
West Specialist Inclusive Learning Centre, Leeds
Whitcliffe Mount School, Bradford
Zakaria Muslim Girls High School, Batley