What is Restart a Heart Day 2025?

Every year on 16 October, thousands of people across the UK unite for Restart a Heart Day: a campaign dedicated to increasing survival rates from cardiac arrest through CPR training and defibrillator awareness.

Led by the Resuscitation Council UK, this initiative gives people and communities the opportunity to prepare with CPR training skills, build knowledge, and increase confidence so that they can take immediate action when a life is on the line.

Last year, more than 5,000 people learned CPR through online and in-person sessions. This year, let’s prepare even more communities, schools, and workplaces. We can come together to take part in CPR and AED activities and celebrate the spirit of Restart a Heart Day.

Woman CPR Trainer helping Man learn CPR on Brayden AED Manikin

Why CPR Training Matters and How CPR Saves Lives

Every moment counts when someone is experiencing a cardiac arrest, because for every minute that passes without interventions like CPR or defibrillation, survival chances drop by approximately 10% (Resuscitation Council UK). This is a devastating figure to keep in mind when bystanders are faced with a challenging situation. In the UK, studies show that survival after an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is around 1 in 10. 

This is where the Chain of Survival comes in. In the middle of a cardiac emergency, people often find it hard to think clearly and with the confidence they need to help. It is important that we are:

  1. Recognising cardiac arrest symptoms and calling for help
  2. Starting CPR immediately
  3. Using a defibrillator confidently when needed
  4. Ensuring early advanced care is taken

Woman giving chest compressions onto man on road

We can all learn CPR and how to use public defibrillators, helping to improve outcomes in our communities.

How WEL Medical Supports CPR and AED Training

WEL Medical provides equipment for schools, sports clubs, workplaces, emergency services, charities, and local councils:

  • Brayden CPR Manikins: a manikin with lights that demonstrate how chest compressions are done.
  • iPAD AEDs: a defibrillator designed to be easy to follow and understand.
  • DefibSafe Cabinets: weatherproof cases that store AEDs so they can be found easily.
  • AED Trainers: devices that let people explore how CPR and AEDs work.

We have heard stories of people who survived because someone nearby knew what to do. These real and inspiring stories are a great reason to get familiar with CPR.

Basic Life Support WEL Medical products

How to Get Involved in Restart a Heart Day 2025

If you’re curious about CPR and AEDs, there are plenty of ways to see them in action and get involved with Restart a Heart Day. Here’s a few examples of what people across the UK are doing to access CPR training in the UK:

police and emt training on brayden CPR manikins and AED trainers WEL Medical

CPR is a skill anyone can get familiar with. Restart a Heart Day 2025 is a chance to explore or revisit training in a supported, supervised setting.

Ready to Strengthen the Chain of Survival?

If you’re looking for support in enhancing your organisation’s training or resources, WEL Medical can help. We provide a range of lifesaving equipment, from CPR training manikins to defibrillators. With flexible finance options available, we aim to keep our solutions as accessible as possible.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to find out more about how you can make a difference in your community.

An image depicting a Brayden Manikin that reads 'Need industry-leading equipment to enhance your BLS training?' This image has a link to WEL Medical's contact page.

Further Reading