Heart of the Community accreditation scheme launch

Yorkshire Ambulance Service and Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity have launched the Heart of the Community accreditation scheme for schools and colleges across the region.

The initiative recognises a commitment to providing life-saving CPR skills and defibrillator availability to ensure the safety of students and the wider community in the event of a cardiac arrest.

There are three levels of accreditation that schools and colleges can progress through as they achieve more of the evidence requirements; these range from taking part in Restart a Heart Day at least twice to making defibrillators available to their local community.

The launch comes as around 35,000 students received CPR training during Yorkshire Ambulance Service’s 11^th annual Restart a Heart Day on Wednesday 16 October.

Jason Carlyon, Community Engagement Manager for Yorkshire Ambulance Service, said: “What happens in the first few minutes after someone has suffered a cardiac arrest is vital. If bystanders can call 999 and start CPR while sending someone to retrieve the nearest defibrillator, that person’s chances of survival can triple.

"This new scheme is designed to reward and recognise schools and colleges which have taken part in our Restart a Heart Day campaign, which provides pupils with CPR skills, as well as ensuring the safety of their students the wider community by providing access to defibrillators which are registered, easily located and highly visible. We feel it's important to acknowledge and encourage  the effort they are making to give cardiac arrest patients the best possible chance of survival."

Please visit our Restart a Heart website for further information about the scheme.

To apply, please first check your achievements against this self-assessment declaration form so you know whether to apply for a bronze, silver or gold award before completing the application form.

If you have any questions, please email yas.restartaheart@nhs.net