Air Ambulance Charity KSS Hosts Training Sessions on CPR and Defibrillator Use for National Restart a Heart Day
Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) Air Ambulance Charity is taking a proactive approach to saving lives by offering free training sessions on CPR and defibrillator use. The sessions, which are available both online and in-person, are part of the charity’s largest education and awareness campaign to date. The goal is to equip as many people as possible with the vital skills needed to save someone in cardiac arrest.
This initiative comes just in time for National Restart a Heart Day on Thursday, October 16, 2025. Thousands of individuals have already signed up for the training, including school children, families, businesses, and even Premier League footballers and fans. The sessions are tailored to every age group, from four years old to 80+.
According to KSS, around 25 people in Kent, Surrey, and Sussex experience a sudden cardiac arrest every day. Sadly, only about one in ten people survive. These incidents can happen to anyone, at any time, including loved ones such as parents, siblings, and friends. By learning CPR and how to use a defibrillator, individuals can more than double the chances of survival for someone experiencing cardiac arrest.
Throughout the week, KSS has been hosting training sessions at various locations, including Surrey Sports Park, Margate Sands, London Gatwick’s South Terminal, and Brighton and Hove Albion’s home match against Newcastle United. On Thursday, October 16, KSS will be livestreaming CPR training and defibrillator awareness sessions to schools, homes, and businesses in the area. The charity will also be hosting a “takeover” at Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent on Saturday, October 18, to provide CPR training for shoppers.
Ben Paul, KSS Paramedic and Education Manager, expressed the importance of these training sessions, stating, “Over the last two years, we have trained nearly 100,000 people in how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator, but we know there is still a lot of work for us to do. These skills save lives; our medical teams frequently see the difference that delivering these interventions early makes.”
He added, “It’s almost impossible to get it wrong or do harm, and therefore we are urging everyone to learn these lifesaving skills. Every single person who signs up and joins our sessions helps us to build our army of lifesavers across Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. We are incredibly grateful to everyone who signs up to take part; together, we can save even more lives in our communities.”
To learn more and sign up for CPR and defibrillator training on Restart a Heart Day, visit aakss.org.uk/restart.
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