St John Ambulance is reminding the public about free CPR training following a ten-fold increase in calls about learning the life-saving technique since Christian Eriksen’s collapse at Euro 2020 on Saturday.
The distressing scenes on the pitch after the Danish midfielder collapsed during his country’s opening match against Finland and needed resuscitation has led to a huge surge of interest. Searches for CPR advice and defibrillator guides are up 565 per cent and 1,900 per cent respectively, the charity said, as it stressed its CPR modules are available online without charge.
The modules are available on the St John Ambulance website and cover the basics of CPR and defibrillation so everyone knows what to do in an emergency. However, they are not a substitute for practical face-to-face training, the charity said, and members of the public registering for free online training are also encouraged to consider a more formal course with a qualified trainer.
In addition to people seeking CPR information, the charity has seen a 125 per cent increase in searches for defibrillator accessories and training models, as the general public and organisations look to ensure life-saving equipment is readily available.
Eriksen released a statement on Tuesday saying he was “fine under the circumstances” and posted a thumbs-up photo from his hospital bed as he made his first comments since suffering a cardiac arrest. Denmark’s team doctor said the 29-year-old “was gone” and needed to be resuscitated. The BBC was heavily criticised for broadcasting pictures of Eriksen receiving CPR while his distressed partner and teammates looked on in agony.
Eriksen thanked fans from around the world for their support. “Now, I will cheer on the boys on the Denmark team in the next matches,” the Inter Milan playmaker wrote. “Play for all of Denmark.”
Dr Lynn Thomas, medical director at St John Ambulance, said: “Our mission is First Aid Saves Lives and we strongly believe everyone should have vital first aid skills. We’ve seen an overwhelming and positive response from the public in the wake of this incident and want to pass on our praise to everyone for showing such an increased desire to educate themselves about how to deliver CPR and how to use a defibrillator.
“By reminding everyone of our free online CPR modules we hope we can give members of the public even greater confidence to be able to know what to do in an emergency. The administering of effective CPR combined with early use of a defibrillator in a cardiac arrest incident can have a dramatic effect on people’s chances of survival.”
The charity has also launched its new Ask Me campaign, featuring stories of how its volunteers have saved lives. Zain Osmani was volunteering as an emergency St John Ambulance crew member in London, when he was called upon to give life-saving care to a man who lay collapsed in the street.
The man was unconscious and not breathing, but Zain and the ambulance crew knew exactly what to do to save his life. Zain commented: “Saving someone’s life is a real honour and a privilege. To give someone’s loved one back to them is a very rewarding feeling,” he said.
from Football – inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/3zzESa2
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