Footballers from AFC Bournemouth have teamed up with University Hospitals Dorset to learn lifesaving CPR and defibrillator skills ahead of Restart a Heart Day.
The club’s players, ambassador Steve Fletcher and staff took part in a practical training session at the team’s new performance centre, supported by the hospital’s Resuscitation Team. The event formed part of the national awareness campaign encouraging more people to learn how to respond in an emergency.
Resuscitation Officer Liz Ponsford said even basic CPR knowledge can make a major difference in saving lives. She explained that early CPR can increase a person’s chance of survival by 50 per cent, while early defibrillation can raise that figure to 85 per cent.
Steve Fletcher said the team was grateful for the session and hoped it would inspire others to learn the same skills. He said the training gave players the confidence to act if someone close to them ever needed help.
The hospital’s Resuscitation Team will host free community events where people can learn CPR, including sessions at Gather in Poole’s Dolphin Centre on 13 October, Bournemouth Square on 14 October and Saxon Square in Christchurch on 17 October.
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