Ross urges Moray support for British Heart Foundation's Heart Month

MORAY MP Douglas Ross is urging people across his constituency to show their support for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) to mark Heart Month.

He has highlighted ways in which people in Moray can support the charity, from learning lifesaving CPR and 'Going Red' to help support ground-breaking research.

Around 3100 cardiac arrests occur out of hospital in Scotland every year, but only one in 10 people survive. However, the BHF have highlighted how early CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival.

People in Moray can learn CPR by using the charity’s first-of-a-kind tool, RevivR, which can help people learn this lifesaving skill for free in just 15 minutes. All that is needed is a mobile phone and a firm cushion.

The RevivR tool will teach people the signs of recognising a cardiac arrest while giving them feedback on chest compressions and outlines the correct steps for using a defibrillator.

Mr Ross says he was “delighted” to meet with David McColgan the charity’s head in Scotland, and encouraged everyone in Moray to get involved in the campaign.

He also highlighted the tragic loss of life of Scottish Conservative staffer, David Hill, from a cardiac arrest at the age of only 30 while he was playing in a rugby match last year in Dublin.

Mr Ross said: “This is such an important campaign from the British Heart Foundation and I am delighted to support it.

“A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time. Sadly, I know that all too well, when a member of the Scottish Conservative staff, David Hill, suffered a cardiac arrest last year and could not be revived.

“That was a tragic loss of life at such a young age and campaigns like this remind us of how we can honour people like David.

“Getting more people in Moray to know CPR is absolutely crucial and the British Heart Foundation’s new RevivR tool makes it easy for people.

“Those in Moray can use this tool for free and in only 15 minutes we will have local people firmed up with the knowledge to become a lifesaver.”

Alongside learning CPR with RevivR, the BHF is also encouraging supporters to 'Go Red' this Heart Month to help fund groundbreaking research into heart and circulatory diseases, which affect around 700,000 people in Scotland. The BHF is currently funding more than £50 million of research in Scotland – research that is funded entirely by donations from the public.

Mr McColgan said: “We’re delighted Douglas Ross is backing the BHF’s Heart Month campaign, working together with us to help save and improve more lives from heart and circulatory diseases.

“CPR could be the most important lesson you ever learn. With RevivR, it only takes 15 minutes – that’s a coffee break, half time in the football or the time you might spend scrolling through social media. It could help you save a life.

“Our BHF-funded scientists are also working to find the breakthroughs to help those affected by heart and circulatory diseases. Over the last 60 years, research has turned ideas that once seemed like 'science fiction' into reality. By going red and supporting the BHF this Heart Month, you will be helping to fund vital research that makes a real difference and helps to keep families together for longer.”

To find out more about Heart Month visit here – bhf.org.uk/heartmonth, #HeartMonth