In May 2022, 24 hours before a flight to Italy, Susan’s husband, John, had a Sudden Cardiac Arrest. On that fateful day, both Susan and her daughter, Kendall were at home. They heard a strange noise coming from downstairs - a cross between a snore and a gurgle.

Professor Gavin Perkins, Vice President of Resuscitation Council UK responds to new CellAED personal defibrillator technology.

Amirah noticed that a young man had fallen off his bike and had sustained significant trauma to his head and body. Whilst the emergency services had already been contacted, it became apparent to Amirah that nobody had assessed Lee’s breathing or pulse. After checking for a pulse and assessing his breathing, she established Lee was in cardiac arrest.

Despite maintaining an active lifestyle and engaging in daily activities without any complications, Zehra’s grandmother experienced a sudden cardiac arrest at home. After experiencing chest pains and wheezing very suddenly at around 11pm, her grandmother lost consciousness and, due to the absence of appropriate first aid measures, remained unresponsive.

In August 2023, we launched a new online resource called Responder Wellbeing to promote better wellbeing for responders.

Millions of children will now have access to lifesaving defibrillators in every state school in England, according to news from the Department for Education.

Resuscitation Council UK launches a free baby and child CPR book which will help save children’s lives 

Pippa Jones had grown up knowing CPR and first aid as a result of her involvement with organisations such as the Girl Guides, Red Cross, and Army Cadets, but nothing could prepare her for doing CPR on her child.

Noah Swales was just three days old when he died from bacterial meningitis on 21 May 2017, despite having shown none of the usual symptoms. On a spring day, Noah’s parents had introduced the newborn to family in the North East when tragedy struck.

RCUK has published a joint briefing paper with St John Ambulance and the British Heart Foundation, explaining why public access to defibrillators shortens the time ‘from collapse to first shock’ in community settings across the UK.