Former Wimbledon midfielder Vinnie Jones has become the latest football star to join the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) CPR campaign co-led with Sky Bet.
The ‘Restarting 11’, as BHF describes them – part of the Every Minute Matters campaign – are a team of people influential in society that raise CPR awareness among their fans.
Jones himself has a long-standing relationship with the BHF, having also starred in a previous CPR ad campaign back in 2012. Now he finds himself again at the helm of the efforts to raise CPR awareness, this time also standing next to Sky Bet, which will push the initiative into the football 2024/25 season.
Steve Birch, Sky Bet CCO, said: “Our biggest goal with Every Minute Matters is making a real difference by funding the BHF’s vital work and getting more people to learn CPR. I can’t think of a better person to add to our team to continue the momentum towards 270,000than Vinnie Jones.”
A survey of 3,000 football fans has shown that 44% of them have previously been in a situation where CPR was required, but an equally high proportion of knowledge and confidence deficit in performing CPR.
A total of 42% of fans have never received training before, while a further 45% say they wouldn’t step up to perform the life saving technique if they had to.
BFH Chief Executive, Dr Charmaine Griffiths, commented: “Vinnie’s star turn in BHF’s legendary ‘Hands Only CPR’ ad has played a huge role in helping save countless lives.
“For so many of us, ‘Staying Alive’ is the soundtrack of CPR, so it is a joy to have Vinnie backing our Sky Bet partnership to help hundreds of thousands more people learn this lifesaving skill.
“Encouraging 270,000 fans to learn CPR via our RevivR tool will give them the confidence to become heart heroes and step up during the ultimate medical emergency.”
Fans are encouraged to download BFH’s free online tool RevivR, which can teach them how to do CPR in 15 minutes with the help of only a phone and a pillow.
The former Leeds star and Wales international added: “Out of all my roles on and off the pitch teaming up with Sky Bet and the BHF might just be one of my most important roles. It quite literally could be lifesaving.
“Sky Bet’s football fan survey shows that low awareness and lack of confidence is holding fans back from stepping up, but the reality is fans have nothing to fear as learning CPR is simple and easy and only takes 15 mins with the BHF’s online RevivR tool.
“That’s why, this season I’m urging football fans to back the Every Minute Matters campaign and ask themselves one simple question – will they stand by or will they step up to learn CPR and potentially save someone’s life.”