Fernanda Teodora da Silva, Duty Manager, Walthamstow Leisure Centre, GLL, saved the life of a customer who suffered a cardiac arrest during a fitness class in September 2024.
GLL hosts one of the UK’s largest resuscitation and lifesaving training events
GLL, the UK’s largest charitable social enterprise, has hosted what’s believed to be one of the country’s largest mass resuscitation and lifesaving training events. Approximately 4,000 GLL team members participated in the event, which aimed to give staff essential CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) skills.
The ‘How to Save a Life’ resuscitation training event, delivered in partnership with GLL’s commercial partner, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK), took place across 260 sports venues operated by GLL. The initiative demonstrates GLL’s commitment to ensuring that its staff are confident and prepared to act effectively in emergencies and have the skills to save lives in the workplace and in their own time with family and friends.
“We are proud to work with GLL, who commit to using our National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ), First Aid and National Rescue Award for Swimming Teachers and Coaches (NRASTC) qualifications to maintain the safety of their swimming pools,” said Jo Talbot, Commercial Director at RLSS UK. “But you don’t need to be a lifeguard or first aider to save a life. Over 80% of out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen at home, and 13% occur in public places*. Anyone can save a life by knowing CPR and how to use an AED.”
Statistics demonstrate the need for such training: the survival rate for sudden cardiac arrest is just 7.8%*, but with CPR and AED use, survival rates can rise to nearly 70%.‡
GLL’s initiative is part of broader efforts to improve public safety. The social enterprise is committed to installing defibrillators in all its facilities and providing associated skills training. Registered as ResusReady with Resuscitation Council UK, GLL is registering the location of all its defibrillators on The Circuit, the national defibrillator network that provides NHS ambulance services with vital information to locate and access defibrillators during emergencies.
Joseph Rham, GLL's Customer & Communities Director, said GLL staff feedback on the training has been hugely positive.
“We were delighted to see such strong engagement and enthusiasm from our teams across the UK. This mass training event gives our staff the practical and lifesaving skills to act in emergencies, both in the workplace and daily life.”
*Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Outcomes (OHCAO) Registry, funded by Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK) and British Heart Foundation (BHF).
‡ Resuscitation Council UK.