We are proud to support “Move Your Heart” social campaign organized by the Wrocław Medical University. The campaign aims to raise awareness about how to respond to sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
Although exact numbers are unknown, it is estimated that between 350,000 and 700,000 people die each year in Europe due to sudden cardiac arrest, with around 40,000 deaths occurring in Poland. This means that such an incident happens every 15 minutes. In 60-80% of cases, SCA occurs outside of a hospital, usually at home, work, in a store, or on the street.
For this reason, the Wrocław Medical University has been running the “Move Your Heart” social campaign for the past year. As part of this campaign, doctors and volunteers – medical students – put their hearts and dedication into conducting first aid training for SCA situations. You can find them at sports events, public spaces in Wrocław, shopping centers, schools, and universities.
The campaign offers simple training sessions that provide knowledge and practical skills that participants can use in the event of SCA. Assessing the breathing of an unconscious person and, if absent, immediately starting chest compressions until the ambulance arrives – just this much, and yet so much, is enough to save a life in the event of sudden cardiac arrest.
On August 1st, the Commission team, along with a few Fulbright alumni from Warsaw, had the opportunity to participate in such training. How was the training? Above all, the atmosphere was incredible and friendly. We were deeply impressed by the professionalism of the training team, as well as their accessibility and personalized approach to the participants. After the training, we unanimously agreed that providing first aid is easy and there’s nothing to fear.
“Restoring a heartbeat through chest compressions is very simple. You just need to remember a few guidelines and follow them. What surprised me was the possibility of using certain songs, like ‘Stayin’ Alive’ by the Bee Gees, to keep the right rhythm for chest compressions. This is very helpful during training, but the most important thing is to overcome fear, use the acquired knowledge, and save someone’s life,” says Justyna Janiszewska, Executive Director of Fulbright Poland.
These words were confirmed by the other training participants, who added: “We often think that it won’t happen to us and that we don’t need this knowledge. However, we might encounter such a situation – not only on the street but also at home. Sudden cardiac arrest can also affect our loved ones. That’s why it’s worth knowing how to provide first aid and being proud of saving a life. The key is to take action and perform chest compressions. Let’s learn and teach others! We might need such help one day as well,” appeals Joanna Socha, a Fulbright Program alumna.
Patrycja Donaburska, our program coordinator, was particularly impressed by the ease of using the AED defibrillator. “During the training, I learned how to properly work with a person who is unconscious and not breathing. Now I also know how to operate an AED. It is very easy to use. You just need to place two electrodes on the chest and follow the instructions. I also installed an app on my phone that allows me to quickly find the nearest defibrillator,” she adds.
Anna Kertyczak, our alumni relations coordinator, had already undergone first aid training, so for her, it was a refresher course on manual skills – at what pace to perform chest compressions and how to do it correctly. “The training was, above all, a reminder that it is our duty to provide first aid to anyone, including strangers who may be lying on the street. We have the chance to save someone’s life, and that is priceless,” she emphasizes.
“By visiting the Fulbright office in Warsaw, we proved that saving lives and learning first aid – resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest – knows no boundaries. We believe that this knowledge will be spread by the foundation’s staff among the residents of the capital and the international community as well,” concludes Dr. Gracjan Iwanek from the Heart Disease Institute at Wrocław Medical University.
More information about the campaign can be found here: https://uwr.edu.pl/en/move-your-heart/
