CPR is a well known emergency lifesaving procedure.
It's easy to perform and when done properly can double or triple chances of survival after cardiac arrest – when a person’s heart stops beating.
About 90 per cent of people who suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospital die because they're not given the proper assistance the moment it happens, according to the American Heart Association.
New research has found that 74 per cent of people know how to doCPR – otherwise known as cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Despite this, just 44 per cent feel confident in performing if someone was in a state of cardiac arrest.
The research, carried out by OnePoll on behalf of the charity Resuscitation Council UK, found CPR was the most taught technique which people had learned on first aid courses.
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How to perform CPR when someone goes into cardiac arrest
But it only ranked fifth in the list of skills adults felt most confident performing, behind dressing a wound, treating a burn, stopping excessive bleeding and treating a sprain.
Sex Education star Connor Swindells, who plays Adam Groff in the hit Netflix show, teamed up with the charity to create a video showing how to perform CPR – on a manikin model of himself.
The 26-year-old confidently explains how to keep yourself safe and begin chest compressions if you see someone suffering with cardiac arrest.
But he's not just performing the life-saving technique on any old manikin.
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In fact, the Sussex-born star begins CPR on a version designed to look exactly like him – complete with chiselled abs.
In the two-minute film, he said: “When Resuscitation Council UK needed a big name to teach the public CPR, I said absolutely.
"I can't work with just any manikin. Something relatable, but handsome, lovable yet tough. A manikin you'd want to save."
The manikin is set to go on a tour around schools, community groups and workplaces across the UK in a bid to boost Britain’s ability and confidence to perform life-saving CPR.
James Cant, chief executive at Resuscitation Council UK, said: “Connor’s involvement in our campaign will help spread awareness of how easy it is to learn CPR.
Symptoms of cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrest isn’t the same as heart attack.
It's when the heart stops beating suddenly and you can die if you don't receive medical assistance within minutes. According to the BHF, 100,000 people are killed by it every year in the UK.
Most of the time, sudden cardiac arrest happens without any warning at all – it comes on so quickly.
Heart attack, on the other hand, is where blood flow to the heart is partially blocked.
If someone is in cardiac arrest:
- they won't be conscious
- they won't be responsive
- they won't be breathing or breathing normally
Heart attacks, however, do come with a number of common signs, including:
- pressure, pain, or tightness in the chest or arms
- nausea
- cold sweat
- fatigue
- sudden dizzines
He adds: “The survey results are encouraging in the sense there’s a large amount of people in the UK who know how to perform CPR, which can help save the life of someone in cardiac arrest.
“But there is also some way to go in getting more people engaged and feeling confident they can make a difference if needed," he said.
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“We want people to have the self-belief and conviction that in a moment of need, they can act to help save someone’s life.
“Be confident to intervene and give it a go – you can’t make things any worse, instead, you could bring someone’s heart back to life," he adds.
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