Rovers have teamed up with Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) to promote the importance of CPR ahead of Restart a Heart day on Friday.
The importance of CPR was brought home to the football world when Christian Eriksen collapsed during Euro 2020.
Swift action was crucial to Eriksen’s survival when the 29-year-old midfielder collapsed during Denmark’s opening game against Finland on 12 June. He was brought back to life with a combination of CPR - cardiopulmonary resuscitation that involves chest compressions - and an electric shock from a defibrillator.
As part of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Restart a Heart campaign which aims to teach CPR, Rovers’ fans will be given the opportunity to learn the life-saving skill at today’s match.
Watch out for the CPR Anywhere video on the big screens and check out the players and Donny Dog in their Restart a Heart campaign t-shirts!
Ambulance staff will also be teaching CPR to Under 18s players as part of their Life Skills sessions.
Jason Carlyon, Community Engagement Manager with YAS, said: “The quick reaction of witnesses undoubtedly saved Christian Erikson’s life, as was the case with Fabrice Muamba, Glen Hoddle and David Ginola who are also cardiac arrest survivors.
“But not everyone is as fortunate. In the UK, only 10% of people who suffer a cardiac arrest outside hospital survive, partly because they don’t receive early CPR and defibrillation.
“With only one in three people in England saying they would be willing to perform CPR if they witnessed a cardiac arrest, it’s important that we give people the confidence and skills to save someone’s life in this medical emergency.
“More patients will survive if more people know what to do before an ambulance arrives, so we are delighted that Doncaster Rovers is supporting our campaign and helping us to create more life-savers.”
Tommy Rowe added: "During the Euros the importance of knowing CPR was brought home to all of us. We all know how important it is to keep your heart healthy but very few of us know what to do if we find someone who is in cardiac arrest.
"Raising awareness and teaching everyone CPR could save countless lives - we're pleased to be doing our bit at Doncaster Rovers to ensure more people know how to do this lifesaving first aid."
Ambulance staff and volunteers will visit 109 Yorkshire’s secondary schools to teach CPR to 30,000 students on Restart a Heart Day (Friday 15 October 2021). Find out more, including CPR tutorial videos, at www.restartaheart.yas.nhs.uk
The Restart a Heart campaign is supported by the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Charity. Text CPRFIVE to 70085 to donate £5 to support our life-saving training.