Paramedic Science students complete 24-hour CPR marathon

BSc (Hons) Paramedic Science students from the University of Suffolk completed more than 172,000 compressions in a 24-hour cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) marathon to raise awareness for the life-saving skill this week.

More than 50 students across the three years of study took part in the challenge, which began at 7.00am on Thursday 19 February and finished at 7.00am on Friday 20 February in the University’s Waterfront Building in Ipswich.

The students completed more than 7,000 compressions each hour, and across the 24-hours performed 720 defibrillator shocks and 10,200 respiratory ventilations.

Chris Matthews, the second-year student who organised the challenge, said there was evidence that members of the public were anxious about using public-access defibrillators, and hoped the event would help promote confidence in using them.

There are around 115,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests reported to ambulance services each year in the UK, 50% of which are witnessed by bystanders, according to data published by the Resuscitation Council UK in October last year.

However, while CPR is undertaken in 72% of cases, less than 10% of those use a public access defibrillator, despite the life-saving advantages they can bring.

Chris said that often the public were not aware that 999 call handlers would talk bystanders through how to use the kit and give them the code to access it.

In addition, the event also aimed to promote awareness of CPR on women, and tackle the taboo around removing a woman’s bra so that CPR can be performed and defibrillators work properly.

Second-year Paramedic Science student Fleur Connelly, said: “There is a lot of stigma around removing the bra on a woman to perform CPR, and statistics show that people can be more anxious to do this.

“However removing a bra to perform this vital treatment isn’t about a loss of dignity, it is about performing a life-saving measure – doing something is better than doing nothing at all.”

As well as the challenge itself, the students also had a mannequin on hand to demonstrate how to perform CPR to others, which included the High Sheriff of Suffolk and the Ipswich Mayor.

The students have applied to Guinness World Records in the hope it may be eligible for a world record attempt in basic life support.

The challenge has raised more than £3,200 so far for The Ambulance Staff Charity (TASC), which supports current and retired ambulance staff and their families during times of need, including with mental health assistance, financial aid and bereavement support.

Chris said: “Our time on placements has highlighted the importance of early CPR from bystanders to save a life, but we know there is a lack of confidence among the public in using defibrillators.

“We hope this challenge shines a spotlight on how critical this life-saving skill can be, while giving back to the ambulance community by raising money for TASC.”

Bethany Weeks, Paramedic Science Deputy Course Leader, said: “We are incredibly proud of all of the students who took part in this epic feat, putting into practice the skills they have learned and highlighting how important CPR is for saving a life.”

It’s not too late to donate to the cause, head to the students’ Just Giving page here.

To find out more about studying Paramedic Science at the University of Suffolk, visit the website here.