When sudden cardiac arrest happens, whatever the situation, anyone could be first on the scene – and with immediate CPR and defibrillator use dramatically increasing the chances of survival, knowing how to respond before professional medical help arrives can prove the difference between life and death.
Emily Browne, the associate director of education at one of Gloucestershire's lifesaving air ambulance services, Midlands Air Ambulance Charity, talks to SoGlos about what effective bystander intervention looks like, why it's so important, the misconceptions, and the training the charity's academy provides to equip everyone with the skills they need.
Emily, tell us a bit about your role at Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.
As associate director for education, I lead the development of clinical education, simulation programmes, and workforce development initiatives for The MAAC Academy, powered by Midlands Air ambulance Charity.
The academy offers an extensive range of education and training opportunities, from first aid for members of the public, through to advanced clinical and specialist development courses for healthcare professionals.
Grounded in the real-world experience of Midlands Air Ambulance Charity’s frontline teams, the academy provides practical, relevant learning, bespoke training solutions and opportunities for research, innovation and collaboration across healthcare and emergency services.
What is bystander intervention?
Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone, anywhere. When it happens, members of the public are frequently the first on the scene. In those critical moments, knowing how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator can mean the difference between life and death.
Bystander CPR is when a member of the public provides chest compressions to someone who has collapsed and is not breathing. This immediate action can significantly improve their chances of survival while professional medical help is on its way.
Why is it so important that people know how to respond in an emergency?
When an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest happens, anyone could be first on the scene. Knowing how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator before emergency services arrive can be lifesaving, with survival rates reaching up to 70 per cent when both are used within three to five minutes.
Yet fewer than half of people in the UK know how to perform CPR, meaning many people do not receive potentially lifesaving treatment when they need it most.
There is also a concerning gender gap in bystander CPR. Studies show women are less likely to receive CPR than men in public settings, often because people are worried about touching the chest area or are unsure about performing CPR on a woman. Women are around six per cent less likely to receive bystander CPR in public, highlighting the need for greater awareness and confidence among the public.
Are there instances where bystander intervention has helped to save a life on a Midlands Air Ambulance Charity mission?
Matt Ullmer, a keen cyclist from Gloucestershire, survived multiple cardiac arrests thanks to the actions of those around him and the specialist care provided by Midlands Air Ambulance Charity.
During a group bike ride, Matt suffered a sudden cardiac arrest and collapsed. His friends immediately called 999, while bystanders from a nearby cricket club stepped in to perform CPR before the air ambulance crew arrived.
Matt experienced another cardiac arrest in May 2025, when his parents found him unresponsive in bed. They immediately began CPR and continued for more than 40 minutes until emergency services arrived.
Thanks to their determination, alongside advanced interventions from the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity critical care team, Matt achieved a return of spontaneous circulation and was later placed on the heart transplant list. Just weeks later, he received a lifesaving donor heart.
Matt’s story highlights the vital role bystanders can play in a cardiac arrest, giving patients the best possible chance of survival before specialist help arrives.
More on Matt’s story can be found at maacmissioncritical.com/matt-s-story.
How is Midlands Air Ambulance Charity raising awareness of the importance of bystander intervention – and how can people learn more about it?
The charity has long supported national initiatives such as the Resuscitation Council UK's Restart a Heart Day, using the campaign to educate communities about the lifesaving impact that immediate CPR and defibrillation can have following an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
The MAAC Academy delivers education programmes for schools and higher education institutions, helping to educate and engage children and young people in vital, age-appropriate lifesaving skills and inspiring the next generation of lifesavers.
Alongside formal training, the charity regularly shares patient stories that demonstrate the real-world impact of bystander CPR, highlighting how those first few moments following a cardiac arrest are often the most critical.
As part of its commitment to inclusive training, we promote the use of female CPR manikins during training sessions, helping to address barriers and misconceptions that can prevent people from intervening during an emergency.
To help people develop and maintain these skills, The MAAC Academy offers a comprehensive range of First Aid and CPR training courses through its education and training programmes. Courses cover essential lifesaving techniques and are designed to provide participants with the knowledge, practical skills and confidence needed to respond effectively in an emergency, all delivered by experienced clinical professionals.
At Midlands Air Ambulance Charity we encourage everyone to undertake regular CPR, AED and first aid training to keep their skills up to date. The MAAC Academy offers a dedicated Lifesaver course focused on the key elements of the chain of survival, covering adult CPR, AED use and caring for an unconscious casualty.
To learn more about our First Aid courses, visit themaacacademy.com.
