Every year on October 16, communities worldwide come together for WRAH, a global initiative aimed at raising awareness about cardiac arrest and empowering people to act in life-saving situations. First launched by the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) in 2012 and later supported by the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR), this day emphasises a simple but powerful message: Two Hands Can Save a Life.

Cardiac arrest strikes suddenly and without warning, affecting individuals of all ages and backgrounds. Each year, more than 350,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur, with survival rates below 10% if immediate action is not taken.

Hands-only CPR, performed immediately, can double or triple survival chances, reinforcing the importance of widespread CPR awareness and training.

">

The Good Morning Breakfast was joined by a team of clinical training specialists from Life Rosepark Hospital to learn more about WRAH and CPR, and the role of music in CPR awareness.

A unique and engaging aspect of CPR instruction is using music to guide chest compressions. Effective CPR requires compressions at a rate of 100 to 120 beats per minute, which coincidentally matches the tempo of many popular songs. This makes learning CPR memorable, fun, and accessible. Some suggested songs include:

• “Stayin’ Alive” – Bee Gees

• “Baby Shark” – Pinkfong

• “Dancing Queen” – ABBA

• “Come on Eileen” – Dexy’s Midnight Runners

• “I Don’t Feel Like Dancing” – Scissor Sisters

• “Pink Pony Club” – Chappell Roan

• “Bad Romance” – Lady Gaga

• “I Will Survive” – Gloria Gaynor

• “MMMBop” – Hanson

• “How to Save a Life” – The Fray

Using these songs, participants can practice CPR in rhythm, making the skill easier to retain and more instinctive during an emergency. Many organisations encourage creating CPR-friendly playlists, allowing young learners, schools, and community groups to engage through music while learning this life-saving technique.

Even Margaret and Shandor were able to learn how to do CPR to the rhythm of a few of these songs; see how they did in this video: 

https://youtube.com/shorts/GVtvpqtfwTg?feature=share

How can you participate in WRAH? WRAH is inclusive and can involve individuals, schools, workplaces, and hospitals through:

• Free CPR workshops and hands-on training using mannequins and AED simulators.

• Interactive games and drawing competitions to educate children about CPR in a memorable way.

• Media campaigns and survivor stories to inspire local communities.

• School programmes to teach students hands-only CPR, empowering the next generation of lifesavers.

Participants are encouraged to share their learning and experiences on social media using hashtags like #RestartAHeartDay and #WorldRestartAHeart, spreading awareness about CPR and the critical role bystanders can play in saving lives.

Why it matters? 

Immediate CPR can buy precious time during cardiac arrest, keeping blood flowing to vital organs until professional help arrives. Every minute without intervention decreases survival chances by approximately 10%. By uniting communities through awareness campaigns and hands-on training, WRAH aims to save up to 200,000 lives each year globally.

World Restart a Heart Day reminds us that anyone, anywhere, can be a lifesaver. By learning CPR, practicing it in rhythm with music, and sharing the knowledge with those around us, we transform communities into lifesaving networks. On October 16, 2025, join thousands worldwide to practice CPR, enjoy music, and take action because, indeed, two hands can save a life.

World Restart a Heart Day 2025: Saving lives, one beat at a time.

OFM Lifestyle cvs