Skip to content 
Search

Latest Stories

NHS urges Asians and ethnic minorities to learn CPR skills

NHS urges Asians and ethnic minorities to learn CPR skills

AN NHS leader on ethnic health inequalities has urged people from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills ahead of Restart a Heart Day on Saturday (16).

Dr Habib Naqvi, the director in charge of the NHS Race and Health Observatory, has called for action as a new survey revealed many people don’t know the difference between a cardiac arrest and a heart attack, a statement said.


A quarter (26 per cent) of BAME people surveyed thought that a cardiac arrest and a heart attack are the same, while a third (33 per cent) didn’t know whether they are the same or different.

Almost half of respondents (47 per cent) from minority backgrounds have never received any type of training on how to help someone experiencing a cardiac arrest.

A cardiac arrest is when someone has collapsed, is unresponsive and showing no signs of life and is not breathing normally. Calling 999, starting CPR quickly and accessing and using a public access defibrillator - if one is available - are crucial steps to take to give the person who’s not breathing normally their best chance of survival.

Dr Naqvi said: “Every year across the UK, more than 30,000 people have a cardiac arrest outside of a hospital and the majority of these take place at home. Sadly, only 1 in 10 people survive.

“While we don’t know the exact numbers of people from a BAME background who have a cardiac arrest each year, we do know that people from these backgrounds have a higher incidence of heart disease and other conditions, and that these increase the risk of a cardiac arrest.

“I want as many people as possible to have the skills and confidence to know what to do and to act quickly in an emergency, so they are in the best position to give a loved one the best chance of life. It doesn’t take long to learn the skills you need, because one day you might need to use them.”

Professor Andrew Lockey, consultant in emergency medicine and vice president, Resuscitation Council UK, said: “I understand people may feel nervous about doing CPR because of Covid-19, and that’s why Resuscitation Council UK currently advises that you do chest compression-only CPR and don’t put your face near the person who has collapsed when checking for breathing.

“As eight out of 10 cardiac arrests happen at home, you’re most likely to need to do CPR on someone you know and care about."

To learn online, visit resus.org.uk/rsah 

The resources are available in Punjabi, Hindi, Arabic, Gujarati, Welsh, Polish, Chinese and Kurdish.

“Everyone should learn CPR and how to use a defibrillator, so if someone collapses and stops breathing normally, they know what to do," said GPs Nadeem and Ismail, who saved Dilraj from cardiac arrest in Leicester two years ago.

Rohit Sagoo, founder and director of British Sikh Nurses, said: “With most sudden cardiac arrests outside of hospital taking place in the home, knowing what to do and starting CPR could mean the difference between life and death for a member of your family in an emergency. When you ring 999, the operator will support you and talk you through what to do, but please take the time to learn what to do now so you feel even more confident to act and help someone who needs you.”

The eighth annual Restart a Heart Day aims to train people in how to perform CPR. The campaign is led by Resuscitation Council UK, in partnership with St John Ambulance, the British Heart Foundation, British Red Cross and all UK ambulance services.

More For You

Norman Tebbit
Following Thatcher’s third general election victory in 1987, Tebbit stepped back from frontline politics to care for his wife. (Photo: Getty Images)

What was the Tebbit Test and why was it controversial?

LORD NORMAN TEBBIT, the former cabinet minister who introduced the controversial “cricket test” to question the loyalty of migrants, has died at the age of 94. The test, later known as the “Tebbit Test,” suggested that immigrants who supported cricket teams from their countries of origin instead of England were not fully integrated into British society. His death was confirmed on Monday by his son, William, who asked for privacy for the family.

Tebbit first spoke about the test in 1990 as a Conservative MP. In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, he said, “A large proportion of Britain's Asian population fail to pass the cricket test. Which side do they cheer for? It’s an interesting test. Are you still harking back to where you came from or where you are?”

Keep ReadingShow less
Air India flight crash
Air India's Boeing 787-8 aircraft, operating flight AI-171 to London Gatwick, crashed into a medical hostel complex shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad on June 12.
Getty Images

Air India crash probe finds fuel to engines was cut off before impact

Highlights

 
     
  • Fuel to both engines of the Air India flight was cut off seconds before the crash
  •  
  • A pilot was heard questioning the other over the cut-off; both denied initiating it.
  •  
  • The Dreamliner crashed shortly after take-off from Ahmedabad, killing 260 people.
  •  
  • Investigators are focusing on fuel switch movement; full analysis may take months.

FUEL control switches to both engines of the Air India flight that crashed shortly after takeoff were moved from the "run" to the "cutoff" position seconds before the crash, according to a preliminary investigation report released early Saturday.

Keep ReadingShow less
Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

The Indian Navy and Coast Guard have consistently reported Chinese research vessel presence. (Representational image: Getty Images)

Chinese vessel tracked in Bay of Bengal after disabling identification system

A Chinese research vessel was detected operating in the Bay of Bengal near Indian waters while attempting to conceal its presence by disabling its Automatic Identification System (AIS), according to a report by The Economic Times, citing French maritime intelligence firm Unseenlabs.

The French company conducted a 16-day satellite-based survey tracking ships through radio frequency emissions. It monitored 1,897 vessels, with 9.6 per cent showing no AIS activity, indicating attempts to avoid detection. The survey raised concerns amid increased Chinese activity in the region.

Keep ReadingShow less
Asian-inspired garden earns
five awards at Hampton Court

(From left) Malcolm Anderson (RHS, head of sustainability) Clare Matterson (RHS director general), Lorraine Bishton (Subaru UK and Ireland, managing director) Andrew Ball (director, Big Fish Landscapes) Mike McMahon and Jewlsy Mathews with the medals

Asian-inspired garden earns five awards at Hampton Court

BRITISH Asians are being encouraged to take up gardening by a couple who have won a record five medals at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival.

“It’s a contemporary reimagining of a traditional walled garden, highlighting the British and Irish rainforests,” said Jewlsy Mathews, who was born in Britain of parents from Kerala, a southern Indian state known for its lush vegetation.

Keep ReadingShow less
uk weather

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England

iStock

England faces widespread heat alerts and hosepipe bans amid rising temperatures

Highlights:

  • Amber heat health alerts in place for large parts of England
  • Hosepipe bans announced in Yorkshire, Kent and Sussex
  • Temperatures could reach 33°C over the weekend
  • Health risks rise, especially for elderly and vulnerable groups

Heat warnings in effect as UK braces for another hot weekend

Amber heat health alerts have been issued across several regions of England, with temperatures expected to climb to 33°C in some areas over the weekend. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) activated the warning at 12 pm on Friday, with it set to remain in place until 9 am on Monday.

The alerts cover the East Midlands, West Midlands, south-east, south-west, East of England, and London. Additional yellow alerts were issued for the north-east, north-west, and Yorkshire and the Humber, starting from midday Friday.

Keep ReadingShow less