Millers team up with Yorkshire Ambulance Service to highlight importance of life-saving CPR and defibrillation education...
Rotherham United have teamed up with Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) to promote the importance of CPR following Christian Eriksen’s cardiac arrest during the Euro 2020 tournament, by dedicating Saturday’s Sky Bet League One fixture against Portsmouth the raising awareness of the campaign.
Midfielder Jamie Lindsay gets involved in some routine CPR training at the club's Roundwood training base
Swift action was crucial to Eriksen’s survival when the 29-year-old midfielder collapsed during Denmark’s opening game against Finland on 12 June. He was brought back to life with a combination of CPR - cardiopulmonary resuscitation that involves chest compressions - and an electric shock from a defibrillator.
As part of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Restart a Heart campaign which aims to give everyone the knowledge to perform CPR, fans will be given the opportunity to learn the life-saving skill at today’s match. Watch out for the CPR Anywhere video on the big screens and check out the players and Miller Bear in their Restart a Heart campaign t-shirts!
Jason Carlyon, Community Engagement Manager with YAS, said: “The quick reaction of witnesses undoubtedly saved Christian Eriksen’s life, as was the case with Fabrice Muamba, Glen Hoddle and David Ginola who are also cardiac arrest survivors.
“But not everyone is as fortunate. In the UK, only 10% of people who suffer a cardiac arrest outside hospital survive, partly because they don’t receive early CPR and defibrillation.
“With only one in three people in England saying they would be willing to perform CPR if they witnessed a cardiac arrest, it’s important that we give people the confidence and skills to save someone’s life in this medical emergency.
“More patients will survive if more people know what to do before an ambulance arrives, so we are delighted that Rotherham United is supporting our campaign and helping us to create more life-savers.”
Ben Wiles dons a Restart a Heart t-shirt in support of the campaign ahead of this weekend's game
Rotherham United’s Performance and Medicine Manager Ross Burbeary echoed the sentiments of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service in reaffirming that the education is of paramount importance when it comes to potentially saving someone’s life.
“I totally understand that it can be a daunting thought that you may be called into action to perform CPR on someone, but with a bit of reading, that anxiety can be reduced ten-fold,” he explained.
“The little tips and tricks like performing CPR to the beat of the old classic ‘Staying Alive’ or even ‘Baby Shark’ are really easy to remember and will allow you to easily get into the right rhythm to keep someone’s heart going.
Ross Burbeary (left) and Stephen Gilpin (right) are well-versed in CPR and how to administer it
“So much of saving a person’s life in a cardiac arrest scenario is about acting quickly and if we can try and help to provide that education so that members of the public who might be on-hand, feel confident enough to perform CPR then it might be the difference between life and death.
“We’re incredibly proud to support the work of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service and the many other charities who work so hard to raise awareness around what to do in the situation of a cardiac arrest and today’s game is a great opportunity to reaffirm that.
“There is no doubt for me, that the rapid response of those present during the EUROs saved Christian Eriksen’s life and prevented a tragic and untimely death of a young man in peak physical fitness.”
There was a swell of support for Denmark star Christian Eriksen following the tragic events which unfolded during the summer European Championship
Millers boss Paul Warne was also keen to grasp the opportunity to use the club’s status within the community to try and spread the word.
“It’s obviously essential and a great time to reinforce the message,” he added.
“I think that the world is changing and the world is more aware of things and anything that we can be a part of is great.
“You see loads more defibs around now and there is one at the stadium and I understand that someone had an attack coming away from a game the other week, and he is now okay after the doctor got out there to help him out.
“It’s essential and life is precious, so anything we can get involved with to raise awareness or to provide the education has got to be a good thing.”
Ambulance staff and volunteers will visit 109 Yorkshire’s secondary schools to teach CPR to 30,000 students on Restart a Heart Day (Friday 15 October 2021). Find out more, including CPR tutorial videos, at www.restartaheart.yas.nhs.uk
The Restart a Heart campaign is supported by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity. Text CPRFIVE to 70085 to donate £5 to support our life-saving training.
At the EURO 2020 tournament, CPR and a defibrillator saved the life of @ChrisEriksen8.
— Yorkshire Ambulance (@YorksAmbulance) October 15, 2021
To mark #RestartaHeart Day, players from the top teams across Yorkshire have come together to teach CPR, and highlight the importance of this life-saving skill.https://t.co/O6DynTen3W