Department of education launches lifesaving videos for children to mark Restart a Heart Day

To mark World Restart a Heart Day, which took place on Friday 16 October, the Department of Education, in collaboration with the Gibraltar Cardiac Association, has today launched two educational videos designed to teach children how to respond to a cardiac emergency.

The videos have been developed with the expert advice and guidance of Sigurd Haveland MBE, Chief Paramedic at the Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA), and provide age-appropriate instructions aimed at equipping children with the knowledge and confidence to act in an emergency.

The first video, aimed at children under the age of eight, focuses on recognising an emergency, knowing who to call for help and understanding what to do while speaking to the emergency services.

The second video, designed for children aged eight and over, introduces practical lifesaving skills, including how to perform compression-only cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

The initiative builds on the Department of Education’s ongoing collaboration with the GHA and the Gibraltar Cardiac Association, which has already seen the Association donate AEDs to every school in Gibraltar. St John Ambulance has also worked with the Department of Education to deliver the Kids CPR ‘train the trainer’ programme to teachers. These new resources are a further step in ensuring that the lifesaving equipment in our schools is matched by the knowledge to respond effectively in an emergency.

The videos will support teaching staff in raising awareness and delivering lifesaving instruction to pupils, as well as contributing to wider staff training and awareness.

Both videos are available now on the HM Government of Gibraltar YouTube channel at:

The videos will be shared across digital and media platforms, extending their reach beyond the classroom and helping to raise awareness of basic lifesaving skills among families and the wider community.

World Restart a Heart Day, marked annually on 16 October, seeks to increase awareness of cardiac arrest and the importance of early intervention. By introducing these concepts from an early age, the Department of Education hopes to encourage a culture of awareness and preparedness in responding to emergencies.

The Department of Education wishes to thank the Gibraltar Cardiac Association and Sigurd Haveland for their invaluable contribution to the development of these resources, St John Ambulance for its work in training teachers, and the GHA for its continued collaboration in promoting cardiac safety across Gibraltar’s schools.

The Minister for Education, the Hon Prof John Cortes MBE MP, said:

"Knowing what to do in an emergency can make all the difference, and these videos will help give our children the confidence to act when someone needs help. We have already ensured that our schools are equipped with defibrillators, but it is equally important that our school communities understand how and when to use them. By introducing lifesaving skills in an age-appropriate way, we are empowering children with knowledge that could one day save a life. I am grateful to the Gibraltar Cardiac Association, the GHA and everyone involved in making this important initiative possible."