Hemel Amazon drivers train in CPR to respond to emergencies

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has trained Amazon instructors at the Hemel Hempstead Delivery Station in CPR and they will pass on their new skills to drivers during 30-minute CPR training sessions.

Jacob West, director of healthcare innovation at the BHF, said: “CPR is a lifesaving skill that only takes 30 minutes to learn. Unfortunately, in the UK there are far too many people dying of a cardiac arrest, often because people don’t have the skills or confidence to perform CPR. It’s vital that CPR training reaches as many people as possible.

“Drivers deliver Amazon orders to millions of people across the UK every year. This unique partnership will mean we put potential lifesavers on to every street in the UK.

"A cardiac arrest can happen anywhere to anyone, but more lives can be saved thanks to Amazon’s commitment to training drivers of more than 100 independent delivery companies.”

The BHF is working in partnership with Amazon and more than 100 independent delivery companies across the UK, to offer the free training to thousands of drivers.

Kerry-Anne Lawlor, country director of Amazon Logistics, added: “We regularly see examples where drivers delivering Amazon parcels for our delivery service partners act selflessly when out on their routes to help others. We are delighted to work with the British Heart Foundation to be able to offer drivers lifesaving CPR training to respond in emergency situations.”

Every year in the UK, there are up to 30,000 cardiac arrests outside of a hospital setting. However, the survival rate is less than one in ten. For every minute that passes without CPR or defibrillation, the chance of survival reduces by up to 10 per cent.

In some instances, CPR can more than double a person’s chances of survival, with research suggesting that survival rates are up to 25% in some parts of Europe where CPR is widely taught.