The Heartstart Lifesaver Programme
Learn about The heartstart Lifesaver course we are providing across Hertfordshire.
Did you know?
- There are nearly 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests every year in the UK [1]
- Less than 1 in 10 people survive an out of hospital cardiac arrest [2]
- 80% of out of hospital cardiac arrests happen at home [3] and 20% happen in a public place
- 8 out of 10 cardiac arrests occur due to a cardiac problem [4]
- Public access defibrillator use is reported as being used in less than 1 in 10 cardiac arrests [5]
- For every minute that someone’s in cardiac arrest without receiving CPR and having a defibrillator used on them, their chance of survival decreases by 10%
- Catastrophic blood loss is life-threatening and can be caused by road traffic accidents, farming accidents, stabbings and machinery. Death can occur within a matter of minutes if it isn’t controlled
- The average ambulance response time is 6.9 minutes [6]
Seconds and minutes matter, like every heart matters. Learn to be a Heartstart Lifesaver by booking onto a free community course.
Our inclusive Heartstart Lifesaver Programme is 3.5 hours and covers the following;
- How to perform CPR
- How to safely use a defibrillator
- How to help someone who is choking
- How to place someone in the recovery position
- How to help someone suspected of having a heart attack
- How to use the public access bleed control kit “the red bag”
What will I get from doing the course?
- You will learn a set of skills which could save lives at anytime
- Learn where your nearest public access defibrillator and public access bleed control kit is
- Develop confidence
- Be taught by an experienced and qualified trainer
- Have fun
- Gain a Heartstart Lifesaver certificate
What will I get from doing the course?
- You will learn a set of skills which could save lives at anytime
- Learn where your nearest public access defibrillator and public access bleed control kit is
- Develop confidence
- Be taught by an experienced and qualified trainer
- Have fun
- Gain a Heartstart Lifesaver certificate
The Cost
Our charity has been created to ensure there is no barrier to learning how to save a life and this includes the cost to attend our programme.
The Heartstart Lifesaver programme is FREE, we are entirely funded through fundraising and donations and would welcome a donation but this is entirely optional. Everyone is welcome.
How do I register for the course?
Subscibe to receive course dates and announcements directly to your email. We will let you know when and where our courses will be running and how you can register your place.
You can read our privacy policy here. We do not share your information with 3rd parties. We ask for your postal town to help find courses running near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I find my nearest defibrillator?
The Heartstart Lifesaver programme champions and encourages everyone who has responsibility for a defibrillator (sometimes referred to as the guardian) to register it on the Circuit. This is a national initiative by the British Heart Foundation, St John Ambulance and the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives to connect all defibrillators onto a national register so the ambulance service can direct 999 callers to their nearest defibrillator. It is estimated that there are thousands of defibrillators across the UK that the ambulance services are not aware of- this can delay vital access to the nearest lifesaving defibrillator.
Your nearest defibrillator can be located by searching this link: Defib Finder UK
The sign to the right is the universal signage for defibrillators promoted by the UK Resuscitation Council and can be found on the defibrillator cabinet.
I want to learn more about first aid, what can I do?
A great option is to volunteer with St John Ambulance. They are an excellent charity and have a variety of roles including first aider, advanced first aider, emergency ambulance crew, medical response team, community advocate, community first responder and more. For further information, please take a look at their website; Get Involved - St John Ambulance
Hearts for Herts is developing a training programme for Heartstart Lifesaver trainers. If you would like to help us, please register your interest by contacting justin@heartsforherts.co.uk
I have a disability, can I still attend?
Yes you can. We are an inclusive charity and want everyone to have access to the Heartstart Lifesaver programme.
Justin has a hidden disability himself and is also a specialist lecturer for teaching people with specific learning difficulties (neurodivergent) including dyslexia, dyspraxia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, ADHD and autism. Please let us know your needs and we will work together to make reasonable adjustments as best we can.
We are proud to be a Sunflower scheme supporter and have achieved the British Dyslexia Association Quality Mark.
References:
- Resuscitation to Recovery A National Framework to Improve Care of People with Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest
- Cardiac arrest - out of hospital care | CKS | NICE
- Leading heart health charities and UK Ambulance Services join forces to raise awareness of the importance of CPR training
- Epidemiology of cardiac arrest Guidelines | Resuscitation Council UK
- Epidemiology of cardiac arrest Guidelines | Resuscitation Council UK
- Epidemiology of cardiac arrest Guidelines | Resuscitation Council UK