Public Resource

CPR information
Two school children doing CPR on manikin

How to do CPR

Learn how to perform CPR so you can give someone the chance of survival if they collapse and stop breathing.

Survivor Paul holds the defibrillator that saved his life

Defibrillation

Find out more about defibrillators, also known as AEDs or PADs.

A teen in school uniform gets ready to do CPR on a manikin

CPR in Secondary Schools

At RCUK, we believe that everyone should learn the skills to save a life. Use our lesson plan to help teach your students with confidence.

Ways you can learn CPR skills
Teens surround their friend who has had a cardiac arrest

Lifesaver learning

With our interactive game in a film Lifesaver, you’ll find yourself at the heart of the emergency. Learn CPR skills at home, in your workplace or in VR mode!

RSAH logo

Restart a Heart

Taking place on or around 16 October every year, members of the public learn essential CPR skills as part of Restart a Heart. Will you join us this year?

An image of people surrounding a manikin which is being given CPR by a person in a grey jumper. The BLSi logo is on the bottom right-hand side.

Basic Life Support Instructor Course (BLSi)

BLSi has been created to empower first aid Instructors and others teaching Basic Life Support (BLS), on how to deliver effective, confidence-inspiring and inclusive teaching to a high standard.

Information on decision-making
Hands being held in a caring way.

ReSPECT

The ReSPECT process creates personalised recommendations for a person’s clinical care and treatment in a future emergency in which they are unable to make or express choices.

Healthcare professional explains forms to family

CPR Decisions and DNACPR

Learn more about why CPR decisions are important, and how you can discuss and record your CPR decisions.

More information
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FAQs

We’ve compiled answers to your frequently asked questions on a variety of topics.

Photo of Sam, who shared his story

Share your story

If you are a cardiac arrest survivor, you've saved a life with CPR, or you have a story about your CPR or ReSPECT decision, we'd love to hear from you.

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Donate

Help us change and save lives across the four nations by donating to RCUK.

Publications and Resources
A still of the Bengali CPR animation

CPR language resources

Our language fliers and animation videos demonstrate how to do CPR in a range of languages.

Young girl with oxygen mask smiling and giving a 'thumbs up'

Publications

RCUK publications which provide information on CPR, AEDS, and decision-making.

Carer holding hands of patient

ReSPECT resources

Documents to support understanding of and use of the ReSPECT process, including easy-read guides.

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News

Every Second Counts report cover

Tick_stroke Resuscitation Council UK launches landmark report to address inequalities in resuscitation

Resuscitation Council UK has launched a landmark report - Every second counts: Tackling inequalities in resuscitation. The report warns that socio-economic deprivation, a person’s ethnicity, or cultural background, shouldn’t determine whether a person is more or less likely to survive a cardiac arrest.

Press release 25 April 2024

Neil and his son Oliver

Tick_stroke Case Study: Neil - "I would have likely died if my son hadn’t have been there"

When 55 year old Neil Davidson went to bed on 31 July 2017, he wasn’t expecting to wake up in hospital. Were it not for the quick thinking of his son, Oliver, he might not have woken up at all.

Case study 24 April 2024

Michelle with her sister at the race

Tick_stroke Case Study: Michelle - "A cardiac arrest can even happen to a marathon runner"

Michelle was at the end of a relay marathon event when she suffered a sudden cardiac arrest. Despite training for several months and having taken part in a number running events previously, she completed the 9 mile section of the run, crossed the line and...collapsed.

Case study 24 April 2024