The 16th October is European Restart a Heart day and to mark this occasion Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is teaching vital resuscitation skills to young and old.

Sudden cardiac arrest is the leading cause of death in Europe, affecting around 700,000 individuals a year. Many of these people can survive if bystanders act immediately.

Throughout the day, the Trust, which runs King’s Mill and Newark Hospital, will be teaching local school children lifesaving resuscitation techniques.

In the evening the trust is holding a dual event in Newark and Sutton offering resuscitation training to members of the public and providing additional information relating to resuscitation decisions. The evening events will run from 6-8pm and are suitable for all age groups and families to attend. The Newark event will take place at the Holy Trinity Centre, Boundary Road, Newark. The other event will be held in King’s Mill Hospital’s Conference Centre.

Christine Miles-Hammond, Resuscitation Training Manager at the trust, said “We want to teach people how to recognise a cardiac arrest and demonstrate effective CPR.

“When a person has a cardiac arrest they may suffer permanent damage to the brain and other organs unless someone starts cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

“As most cardiac arrests happen outside of hospital it’s really important that people learn these skills and don’t feel intimidated by the thought of CPR. Your hands can save a loved one’s life!”

To book places at either event please contact the Trust’s membership office on 01623 622515 extension 3575 or email [email protected]. Tea/coffee will be provided from 5.30pm onwards.