October 16th is European Restart a Heart Day (http://www.restartaheart.eu). This initiative, spearheaded by the European Resuscitation Council (ERC), is aimed at increasing survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiorespiratory arrest (OHCA). It was instigated in 2013 following a successful campaign by the ERC to pass a written declaration in the European Parliament, which called upon member states to improve awareness and provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) education to the public as well as healthcare professionals. The 2010 ERC Guidelines had already endorsed the recommendation that all citizens should be taught CPR.1

Every year, approximately 350 000 Europeans suffer OHCA.2 In the UK alone, the figure is estimated to be 60 000.3 Average survival rates are, at best, 12% overall with higher rates (23%) seen in the subgroup of those who are fortunate to arrest in a ‘shockable’ rhythm (ventricular fibrillation or tachycardia).4 Factors that have been proven to improve survival include rapid access to defibrillation and swift onset of CPR in the meantime. For every minute that passes without CPR, survival decreases by 10%. With bystander CPR, this rate drops to 2–3% per minute thus buying extra time for a defibrillator to arrive and be used successfully.1 As Deakin and Gray5 have shown however, the presence of a nearby automated external defibrillator (AED) does not guarantee its use. We therefore need to increase awareness in the use of public access AEDs as well as train our population to perform CPR when needed.

The theme of last year's Restart a Heart Day was ‘Children Save Lives’. Events were held throughout Europe to increase awareness of the problem. In the UK, the Resuscitation Council (UK) distributed a free copy of the award winning Lifesaver programme (http://www.life-saver.org.uk) to every secondary school. This interactive game, which is free to download to smart phones and tablets, immerses users into three scenarios allowing them to make real-time decisions with realistic consequences. In the process, they learn about CPR, choking management and AED use.

There is compelling evidence that areas that invest in teaching children the skills of CPR have better survival rates. This is predominantly due to the associated higher rates of bystander CPR rates as more of the population is trained. In Copenhagen,6 where they have been training school children since 2005, bystander CPR rates are 44.9% with a survival rate for shockable rhythms of 32%. In Stavanger,7 where training was first instigated in 1985, bystander CPR rates are 73% and survival from shockable arrests is 48%. Similarly in Seattle,8 the bystander rates are 61% and survival from shockable arrests is 49%. Compare this with the dismal rates in countries like the UK (bystander CPR rate 30% and survival in shockable rhythms of 23%) where no such mandate to teach children exists.3

The Resuscitation Council (UK) and British Heart Foundation have been actively campaigning to make CPR training a mandatory element of the national schools’ curriculum with little success. Primary school children could learn the concepts of first aid including the recognition of the unwell person, the recovery position, and calling for help. Secondary school children are physically able to deliver CPR and learn about AEDs.9 In some areas of the country, enthusiastic campaigners have ensured that their local schools teach these skills although the effort to sustain this training is made more difficult for the lack of any mandatory requirement.

In this issue, a review by He, Wynn and Kendrick10 has concluded that there is evidence to support provision of first-aid training to children. While their review highlights a paucity in evidence, there are indications that training leads to increases in knowledge, skills and confidence in undertaking first aid. The papers reviewed demonstrated a high risk of bias and the age ranges studied were variable. They encountered the challenges that face all studies looking at the impact of educational interventions in first aid and life support. The outcomes that are easiest to measure (eg, immediate impact upon knowledge and skills) are of limited interest compared with those that are more difficult to measure and that do matter (eg, impact upon patient care and survival). These latter outcomes would require massive studies to show a positive correlation and as such do not tend to be done. Until they are, we are limited to studies that show immediate benefits in terms of knowledge and skills and increased enthusiasm. It is important however that this is not undervalued and the evidence from many years of training school children in places like Copenhagen, Stavanger and Seattle should give us assurance that there is a potential correlation with improved patient outcomes.

The importance of such training is further evidenced by the tragic case highlighted in this issue by Xiuli et al11; however the authors describe a more disturbing reason for lack of bystander help. The details of what happened in Shenzhen are harrowing and it is appropriate that a widespread debate was triggered as a result. It is of huge concern that innocent rescuers may be seen as perpetrators and prosecuted in China. This reaction has to be challenged and halted through top-down legislation to protect ‘good Samaritans’, such as the one recently announced in England and Wales¹², otherwise many more innocent lives will be lost.

The theme for this year's Restart a Heart Day is ‘Loved Ones Save Lives’. This reflects the fact that the vast majority of OHCAs occur in the home, where family members are the only witnesses and therefore the only ones with the chance to save their loved ones.

In Canada, Vaillencourt et al13 have estimated that 85% of OHCAs occur in the home, and that half are witnessed by a family member or friend (usually over the age of 55 years). This prompted them to look at the behaviour traits that influence willingness to perform CPR. Their sample population included 24 volunteers over the age of 55 years. Through a series of semistructured qualitative interviews, they concluded that there is an understanding of the importance of CPR training with a desire to help loved ones should the need arise. This was balanced however with a fear of ‘doing wrong’, worries about physical limitations that may impair ability to deliver CPR, and an ambivalence to act in group situations. There are important messages to be learnt in terms of strategies to engage and enthuse this cohort in learning CPR skills. The authors clearly acknowledge the main limitations of this paper—namely that the subjects interviewed were all volunteers and the majority had prior training in CPR. It would have been interesting to gain a range of opinions from those with no prior training or interest in the topic.

The evidence from Copenhagen, Stavanger and Seattle show that survival rates of two to three times the current levels are achievable. This would equate to up to 100 000 additional lives saved per year across Europe. Investing resources into teaching CPR and also awareness of AEDs is needed, particularly in situations where OHCA is likely to be witnessed. Targeting school children with education ensures that they have lifelong skill sets that convert them into life-savers. It is the easiest way to train the broadest slice of the population. Additional targeting of high-risk groups will further improve survival statistics.

There is significant variability in practice across Europe in terms of first aid and CPR training with very few countries that reliably deliver this training in a standardised format.14 Until there is a central mandate in every European country to deliver this education, the European Restart a Heart Day will continue. It is our duty to encourage and expand the pockets of enthusiastic activity that currently exist and inspire other areas to follow their example.

So, what will you do on 16 October 16 2014? First of all, ensure that your own training in basic life support skills is up to date. Next, ensure that your loved ones are also trained—you may personally benefit from this investment in the future. Organise an event on the day to raise awareness about this problem. The Resuscitation Council (UK) will endeavour to help promote any UK initiatives and can be contacted on restartaheart@resus.org.uk. Finally, contact your local school(s) to see if they are delivering CPR training. If they are, encourage them to continue. If not, and if it is within your gift, help support and encourage them to do so.