Every year, around 350,000 Europeans suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, it occurs anywhere, for example in the street, at work, or while exercising or doing other strenuous activity. Currently, less than 1 in 10 of these patients survive. Bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation by lay people increases survival by 2-3 times, however, today it is delivered in only 1 in 5 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Increasing this rate may save 100,000 lives in Europe per year. It’s certain that if more people were trained and if more automated external defibrillators were placed on strategic points, 50% of the deaths by cardiac arrest could effectively be prevented.
On October 16, 2013 European Resuscitation Council holds “European Restart a Heart Day” in all countries of Europe. The aim of the Day is to teach public how to help restart the heart of someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest, and at that day even Members of European Parliament will be taught how to resuscitate a victim and use an automated external defibrillator.
Federal Almazov Medical Research Centre in cooperation with Russian National Resuscitation Council joined European Restart a Heart Day. Everyone could gain the knowledge and skills necessary for every citizen and learned to save lives: lecture and training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation took place in “Library” hall of the Centre.