A glittering cast of footballers who survived life-threatening coronary emergencies have joined forces with Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation to teach more than a quarter of a million people life-saving CPR. The initiative aims to recruit 270,000 people, equivalent to filling Wembley three times, to learn CPR over the next 12 months.
EFL title sponsors Sky Bet are pledging up to £3 million to support the work of Britain’s largest heart charity, starting with £10,000 for every goal scored in the play-offs across three divisions. Souness, Ginola, Hoddle, and Lockyer are part of the ‘Re-Starting XI,’ a team also including former Bolton midfielder Fabrice Muamba, Derby defender Megan Tinsley, and Wigan striker Charlie Wyke.
Their goal is to inspire fans to tackle the ultimate medical drama. Souness, who was diagnosed with coronary heart disease in his early 30s, stated, “CPR saves lives, and you only have to look at our Re-Starting XI to see that.
It’s a privilege to join a team of inspiring people, many who are only here today thanks to CPR, as we stand with Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation to call on the nation to take action.” Lockyer, who collapsed during last year’s Sky Bet Championship play-off final and survived a cardiac arrest in December, emphasized the importance of CPR and urged more football fans to learn it.
There are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year, with five occurring every 90 minutes. Each minute that passes without CPR reduces the chance of survival by up to 10 percent.
Tragically, fewer than one in 10 people survive, often due to those around them lacking the skills or confidence to perform CPR. The “Every Minute Matters” initiative will urge everyone to take just 15 minutes to learn CPR with RevivR, the BHF’s free and easy-to-use digital tool.
The simple course requires no medical experience and can be completed with just a mobile phone and a cushion for practice. After completing the training, 97 percent of users feel confident enough to give CPR and use a defibrillator.