Over 1,700 People Trained in Life-Saving CPR for Restart A Heart Day 2024

 Over 1,700 People Trained in Life-Saving CPR at Watford Atria and London Stansted Airport for Restart a Heart Day

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) delivered free CPR training to more than 1,700 people across two major venues – Watford Atria Shopping Centre and London Stansted Airport – as part of National Restart a Heart Day. The initiative seeks to improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests by equipping more individuals with essential life-saving skills.

Over 1,040 Trained at Watford Atria Shopping Centre 

On Sunday, 13th October, EHAAT’s critical care paramedics, charity team members, and volunteers hosted CPR sessions at Watford Atria Shopping Centre. From 10 am to 4 pm, 1,041 shoppers participated, learning how to perform chest compressions and use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) – essential actions that could save a life during a cardiac emergency.

“Restart a Heart Day is a vital opportunity to raise awareness about CPR and empower people to act when needed,” said Adam Carr, EHAAT’s Clinical Community Lead and a critical care paramedic. “We were thrilled to see so many people take the time to learn these skills, ensuring our community feels more confident and prepared to save lives.”

Over 700 Take Part at London Stansted Airport 

On Wednesday, 16th October, EHAAT extended its life-saving training to travellers and staff at London Stansted Airport. From 7 am to 7 pm, 711 participants stopped by the departure lounge area to learn CPR techniques and practice using an AED while waiting for their flights.

Alison Newman, who survived a cardiac arrest at her home in August 2021, works at the airport and visited the event to share her story and highlight the importance of CPR. “I had a cardiac arrest in my kitchen,” Alison recalled. “My daughter heard me collapse, called for help, and began giving CPR until emergency services and the Essex & Herts Air Ambulance arrived.”

Reflecting on the Restart A Heart Day event at Stansted, Alison said: “I just think it’s amazing! People are willing to learn CPR, but it’s not something that comes to mind for them to book. The fact that they’re on holiday or travelling and can take five or ten minutes to learn a really useful skill is brilliant.”

Anita Harrison, Customer Operations Director at London Stansted, praised the initiative: “We were delighted to support Essex & Herts Air Ambulance for Restart a Heart Day. Airports are dynamic places, and having individuals trained in CPR is critical. Our customer service team serves as our first responders, but empowering passengers and staff with these skills makes a real difference.”

Harrison added, “This event complements our recent collaboration with EHAAT during Airport Safety Week and aligns with our commitment to passenger safety. Learning CPR takes only a few minutes, and it could one day save a life.”

Building a Community of Life-Savers 

Restart a Heart Day underscores the importance of quick intervention in cardiac emergencies. With approximately 35,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occurring annually in the UK – and survival rates below 10% – the need for widespread CPR knowledge is critical.

EHAAT’s presence at Watford Atria and Stansted Airport is part of a broader mission to improve public health and safety across Essex and Hertfordshire. By providing accessible training in high-footfall areas and schools, the charity aims to foster a community of confident responders ready to act when needed.

Take a look at our step-by-step CPR videos here.

“Everyone can be a lifesaver. Taking just a few minutes to learn these skills could mean the difference between life and death.” Adam Carr