Survival and support
Cardiac arrest survivor urges everyone to learn CPR this World Heart Day
A cardiac arrest survivor whose life was saved by a stranger in the gym is encouraging everyone to learn CPR this World Heart Day (Thursday 29 September).
Rehana Browne was just 22 when she suffered a cardiac arrest whilst exercising at the gym in 2013 and was saved by a doctor working out next to her who was able to perform CPR.
As the Charity of the Year for the iconic TCS London Marathon in 2022, we have invited everyone with a place in the event, staff, volunteers and contractors to learn CPR through our free, first-of-a-kind online training tool – RevivR.
Rehana, now 31, and based in London, said: “It is thanks to the quick thinking of someone I’d never met before that saved me. I know more than most the importance of knowing CPR. It could save a life, like it saved mine.
“CPR is something that we should all learn. That’s why this World Heart Day, I’m joining the BHF’s rallying call to everyone in the country to learn this important skill and help save more people from cardiac arrests.”
RevivR – First-of-a-kind CPR app
RevivR is a free, quick and easy tool to improve the nation’s CPR and defibrillation skills. In just 15 minutes, it shows when and how to do CPR to save someone’s life – and all you need to practice is a mobile phone and a cushion. The online tool teaches how to recognise a cardiac arrest, gives feedback on chest compressions and outlines the correct steps of defibrillator use, giving anyone the confidence to step in and help save a life in the event of the ultimate medical emergency.
Thousands of people involved in this year’s TCS London Marathon have already taken up the call and have either learnt CPR and defibrillation for the first time or brushed up on their skills ahead of the event.
Rehana’s story
Rehana said it was thanks to the quick actions of a doctor on the rowing machine next to her in the gym that her life was saved.
After being rushed to hospital, doctors put Rehana, then 22, into a medically induced coma when she was in hospital after the cardiac arrest, and told her parents there was a high risk she might be brain-damaged or disabled.
They were unable to find any underlying condition but decided to fit her with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), which would try to restore the heart to a normal rhythm if Rehana had another cardiac arrest.
Rehana now wants to make people aware that heart problems can affect anyone of any age and encourage everyone to be prepared for any scenario.
“It’s one of the most horrendous, traumatic phone calls that a family can receive, knowing a loved one is in a coma. I remember waking up and feeling incredibly calm about the state I was in, which is thanks to the most phenomenal care I received in the hospital. The fact that they were so sensitive to me and so amazing, I think that really helped.
“The doctors decided it was best to get an ICD fitted in case it happened again. I couldn’t be sure that someone would be there to save my life again.”
“Going through something like this is a real challenge and at times the recovery process was frustrating. But I’m incredibly grateful for all the support I’ve received along the way.
“I can never thank the woman who performed CPR on me enough. That’s why it is so important we all do our bit and learn something lifesaving like CPR, because you never know when you might need it.”
Lifesaving skills
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, our Chief Executive, said:
“It’s incredible to hear Rehana’s story and how the quick-thinking of someone she didn’t even know saved her life. It goes to show just how important it is for people to learn a lifesaving skill like CPR.”
“It’s fantastic to see that so many people who will be donning their trainers this weekend have already taken the time to learn CPR through RevivR. The tragic reality is that fewer than one in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK and this needs to change. We are determined to make a difference and create a nation of life savers by giving everyone the opportunity to learn CPR.”
We are the 2022 Charity of the Year for the TCS London Marathon. BHF team runners and supporters will help raise funds for groundbreaking research into regenerative medicine, a cutting-edge field of research that has the power to unlock a cure for heart failure.
We have identified nine regenerative medicine research projects to benefit from the money raised at this year’s TCS London Marathon. These projects aim to find ways to regrow, repair and replace damaged heart muscle and blood vessels - and could one day find a desperately needed cure for heart failure.