Restart a Heart Day 2026 and why learning CPR matters

Today is Restart a Heart Day. Most of us never think about CPR until the moment we see someone collapse, and by then there's no time to learn. In over 34 years of nursing, I've seen how much those first few minutes matter, so I wanted to share a few facts and why learning CPR could help you help someone.

What Restart a Heart Day is

Restart a Heart is an annual campaign led by Resuscitation Council UK^[1]. It runs throughout October, with the main day on 16 October, and the aim is simple. The more people who know CPR, the more people survive a cardiac arrest. This year their Resus Annie manikin is touring the UK, and it stops in Manchester on 29 October.

Why it matters closer to home

Around 115,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are reported to UK ambulance services every year, and crews try to resuscitate around 43,000 of those people^[2]. Between 70 and 80% happen at home. So if you ever need to do CPR, it's most likely to be for someone you know and love.

Sadly, fewer than 1 in 10 people survive^[1]. Giving CPR and using a defibrillator can double someone's chance of survival^[3], yet a bystander uses a defibrillator in only about 9% of cardiac arrests in England^[2].

Finding your nearest defibrillator

The Circuit is the national defibrillator network, and it tells NHS ambulance services where registered defibrillators are^[4]. You can look up the ones near your home or work on Defib Finder^[5]. It's worth doing today, while things are calm. If your workplace, club or village hall has a defibrillator, please make sure it's registered on The Circuit so ambulance services know it's there.

Come and learn with us, for free

Reading about CPR is a good start, but nothing beats practising on a manikin for giving you the confidence to act. Our free Basic Life Support session for the public is relaxed and hands-on. You'll practise CPR, learn how to use a defibrillator and find out how to help someone who is choking. No experience is needed.

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Free Basic Life Support (BLS) for the Public

A free Basic Life Support session for members of the public. In a relaxed, hands-on session you'll learn the essential, potentially life-saving skills to respond to an emergency recognising a cardiac arrest, performing CPR on adults and using a defibrillator (AED), and helping someone who is choking. No previous experience is needed. Please note: this is a free community course and is NOT accredited, it does not award CPD points or meet the Core Skills Training Framework (CSTF). If you are a healthcare professional and need accredited BLS for work, please see our accredited Basic Life Support Training (BLS) course or contact us to arrange a session.

1 HourEssential TrainingMax 12

19Nov

Northwich Training Centre, Northwich

11 spots left

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If you're thinking about training at work, our free first aid needs calculator can help you work out the cover you need. And if you have any questions about CPR or our courses, just give us a call.