Bristol footballers kick off CPR training with hospital team

Players from Bristol City Walking Football Club have scored vital new life-saving skills after taking part in a special CPR training session delivered by University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust (UHBW).

A team of Resuscitation Practitioners visited the players at their training ground at Imperial Sports Ground in South Bristol, for a hands-on session focused on cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

The session aimed to raise awareness of the importance of early intervention during cardiac emergencies, demonstrating how simple CPR techniques can mean the difference between life and death.

Former Bristol City Football Club players Gerry Sweeney, Paul Cheesley, Trevor Tainton, and Dave Rogers - members of the ‘Ashton Gate Eight’ - also attended the event.

Participants were also shown how to use a defibrillator - a device that delivers an electric shock to help restart the heart when someone is in cardiac arrest.

Katie Snook, Resuscitation Practitioner at UHBW, said: “We were thrilled to collaborate with Bristol City Walking Football Club to share these vital life-saving skills. All the players showed fantastic enthusiasm and commitment to learning.

“CPR is a skill that anyone might need at any time, and equipping people with the confidence to act can make a real difference. By empowering members of our community with these skills, we are helping to save lives.”

The session forms part of UHBW’s ongoing community outreach work, which promotes first aid awareness and empowers people across Bristol to take action in emergencies.

Neil Palmer, founder of the Bristol City Football Club Former Players Association, said: “For the association, getting involved in the community really matters. The recent CPR training with UHBW was a big success, and we were honoured to be part of it.

“Every player left with knowledge that’s incredibly important, quite literally life or death. We look forward to being involved in other community events like this.”

James Cant, Resuscitation Council UK CEO said: “Every second counts when someone experiences a cardiac arrest. Members of the public need to feel confident to recognise cardiac arrest, call the emergency services, start CPR, and use a defibrillator to save more lives.

“Our free Lifesaver training tool is a quick and interactive way to learn these important skills.”

Over 34,000 people experience a cardiac arrest outside hospital each year in the UK, according to The Resuscitation Council. Many of these deaths could be prevented if immediate CPR was performed before emergency services arrive.

To learn more about CPR and how you can make a difference, visit the NHS website.