This week King Charles visited the headquarters of the Royal College of Nursing in Central London and undertook a refresher in life-saving CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
Most people who suffer a cardiac arrest are unlikely to do so in the presence of skilled medics, which is where bystander CPR becomes so important. Last year the the Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Outcomes (OHCAO) Registry revealed that fewer than one in 12 patients (7.8%) survive to 30 days after experiencing an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, yet immediate initiation of CPR can double or even quadruple a person’s chance of survival.
These days there is no need to attend a first aid course to learn how to do CPR – the British Heart Foundation has a free online resource called RevivR, which teaches CPR in just 15 minutes.
Resuscitation Council UK also has an online interactive game called Lifesaver, which teaches the key skills needed to save a life in an emergency.
There is also an app called GoodSAM, where trained first aiders can register and be alerted to a cardiac arrest nearby, enabling them to assist in an emergency prior to the arrival of paramedics.
To watch the King in action simulating CPR, click here.