RCUK partners with Oti Mabuse to increase awareness of CPR

Oti Mabuse, the Strictly Come Dancing star, has created a new TikTok dance to increase awareness about performing CPR. 

The South African dancer can be seen performing the five major parts of CPR in the video – including checking for danger and then for breathing using choreography that mimics the steps. 
 
She also calls 999 for help, asks for a person to fetch a defibrillator, and carries out chest compressions with her hands interlocked at two beats per second.   
 
The pro dancer partnered with Resuscitation Council UK to record new moves to Olly Murs’ hit classic 'Heart Skips A Beat'. 

 
Oti told her 320,000 TikTok fans: "It's important to learn CPR as you never know when you might need it." 

Also joining in with the dancing action includes TV presenter and actor Karim Zeroual who has also filmed a version of the dance.  

The 28-year-old said: “It’s vital everyone knows just how important performing CPR is, as it can help save lives. 

“When I was asked to take part, I had no hesitation as performing CPR on a person who is in state of cardiac arrest is crucial in increasing survival rates.” 

Other celebrity stars, including ITV’s The Masked Dancer presenter Davina McCall and Oti’s sister, Motsi Mabuse, have also been urged to film their own version of the dance to raise awareness about the importance of CPR. 

Oti’s TikTok caption reads: “It’s important to get the CPR message out there, and that’s why I’m nominating @thisisdavinamccall and @motsi_mabusetaunustanzschule to lock hands and raise awareness of CPR.” 

TikTokers have been encouraged to record their own version of Oti’s dance and share on their social media platforms, as figures show almost three-quarters of Brits have learned how to perform the life-saving skill but only half of those feel confident administering it.  

Director of Communications and Engagement at Resuscitation Council UK, Esther Kuku said: “Having Oti on board to choreograph such a creative and engaging dance will help raise awareness of CPR and highlight just how easy it is to learn.  

“The more people who know how to perform this life-saving skill, the more chance people have of surviving a cardiac arrest, which can happen to anyone at any time , so everyone needs to know that their two hands could save a life.”

The dance was recorded after the charity conducted research via OnePoll and found just 41 per cent of adults knew where to find a defibrillator. 

Worryingly, less than a third (29 per cent) know how to use a defibrillator on someone in cardiac arrest. 

Almost a quarter (23 per cent) said they would leave a person in cardiac arrest to phone an ambulance – something which is strongly advised against by Resuscitation Council UK. 

 Esther continued.: “While it’s encouraging almost three-quarters of adults say they know how to perform CPR, there is always room to learn and develop this skill particularly those who may not have brushed up on it for some time. 

“We believe Oti’s video will go some way to ensure engagement and embed confidence in performing CPR.”