Supporters

“Every year, more than 50,000 people in Germany suffer a cardiac arrest at home, at work or in a public area. Only one in ten survive. Often there are people nearby who could take action. Unfortunately, though, there are still not enough people who have the confidence to give first aid in such a situation. Many people are not aware that in an emergency, every second counts. The chances of surviving a cardiac arrest can be doubled or even trebled if cardiac massage is begun right away. This is why we are cooperating with the ‘National Resuscitation Action Group’ and staging a campaign to show that resuscitation is easier than many people think. Any of us can become a life saver.”
Hermann Gröhe, former Federal Minister of Health (2017)

“More than 10,000 human lives could be saved in Germany every year if resuscitation procedures were begun as soon as someone suffered a cardiac arrest. This is because cardiac massage is highly effective if done properly.” With its info campaign, the BZgA aims to help make sure that all citizens know how to perform resuscitation and can do so in emergencies. “We want to encourage people to take action rather than looking away. When it comes to resuscitation by lay first-aiders, the only thing you can do wrong is not to help at all.”
Dr. med. Heidrun Thaiss, former director of the BZgA

“Training in resuscitation measures is critical when looking after a patient who has suffered a cardiac arrest and waiting for the emergency services to arrive. In France, great efforts are being made to train as many people as possible in first aid – even while they are still at school. From the beginning of the academic year 2016/2017, all schoolchildren aged 14 and over will have at least two hours of instruction in dealing with bleeding, broken bones, deep wounds, burns, unconsciousness and cardiac arrest.”

Philippe Etienne, former French ambassador to Germany

“Resuscitation is an extremely important topic, but many people ignore it. Yet the right measures can often mean the difference between life and death – we have to make as many people as possible aware of this. This is where I would like to help.”

Maria Höfl-Riesch, three-time Olympic champion

“Resuscitation is so easy and saves lives. With my Gerald Asamoah Foundation for Children with Heart Conditions, I too am committed to improving the safety of patients with heart disease in Germany. ‘Check - Call - Compress’ is what we should do in an emergency, and we also want to teach children and young people how to do this. I am proud to support the ‘National Resuscitation Action Group’, because it’s important to me that we raise awareness of the topic of resuscitation so that everyone knows what to do in an emergency and no time is lost. Follow your heart – you too can become a lifesaver!”

Gerald Asamoah, former international soccer player and director of the Gerald Asamoah Foundation for Children with Heart Conditions

“Health is all about community. Nobody can give birth to himself. And nobody can resuscitate himself! The more people know how to give first aid and actually do it, the safer we will all be. I myself have seen how an item on cardiac massage on my programme ‘Hirschhausen’s Quiz des Menschen’ helped save several people's lives. That’s why I can say – with hand on heart – that I fully support this initiative!”

Dr. Eckart von Hirschhausen, doctor, author and presenter

Legendary sports commentator Dieter Kürten is a member of the Wiesbaden-based heart organisation “Hand aufs Herz e.V.” and “Definetz e.V.” He too champions the cause of resuscitation:

he himself survived a cardiac arrest thanks to the quick thinking of a courageous first aider!

“...we want to give as many people as possible a chance of surviving sudden cardiac arrest; this is why I emphatically support the aims of the National Resuscitation Action Group.”