Every Minute Matters...
To mark World Heart Day, Boro duo Luke Ayling and George McCormick have been learning from club doctor Tom Prichard about how simple CPR training can save lives.
There are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year, equating to at least five every 90 minutes. Each minute that passes without CPR reduces the chance of survival by up to 10%, while recent research found that 45% of football fans lack the confidence to perform CPR.
Dr Tom has first-hand experience – while reluctant to take the spotlight, he’s twice made headlines for stepping in to assist in medical emergencies in the stands at matches, including a Blackburn Rovers supporter at the Riverside for their match against Boro back in 2022.
Here are seven simple, but life-saving steps you can take if and when you find someone in distress.
1 Ensure it’s safe to approach the person.
2 Check for a response. Look and listen for any signs of life for ten seconds.
3 Call for help. See if there is anyone around who can assist you, and dial 999.
4 Start chest compressions. Interlink your fingers,and press the palms of your hands against the centre of the person’s chest. Lock your elbows, and make sure your shoulders are over the person’s body. For a child, use a single hand, or an infant, two fingers.
5 Complete 30 chest compressions. Compress at a rate of around 120 a minute (two every second) and a depth of 5-6cm, allowing the chest to recoil fully.
6 Rescue breaths. After 30 compressions, give two rescue breaths. Tilt the head, lift the chin and blow into the patient’s mouth for one second.
7 Continue this cycle. Keep up the 30 compressions/two breaths cycle until help or a defibrillator arrives.
The Every Minute Matters Campaign, launched this year by Sky Bet in partnership with the British Heart Foundation is on a mission to raise £3 million and recruit 270,000 football fans to learn CPR.
Sky Bet have announced they are donating £1,000 to the campaign for every goal scored across the EFL this weekend.
The British Heart Foundation’s online tool RevivR provides a quick and easy course for those looking to learn CPR, in just 15 minutes.