Billboards going up across the UK on Monday 28 July herald a TV first as the British Heart Foundation (BHF) invites the nation to 'watch their own heart attack' through a television event that could help save lives.
This compelling viewing experience will air on ITV1 on August 10 at 9.17pm during the Midsomer Murders break to raise awareness of heart attack symptoms, and could be the single most important two minutes of television people will ever see, says the nation's heart charity.
Every year in the UK almost a quarter of a million people suffer heart attacks, a third of whom die before reaching hospital (1). The BHF campaign will show people how important it is to recognise heart attack symptoms and urge people to call 999 immediately when they experience them.
Betty McBride, Director of Policy and Communications at the BHF, says "We're bringing heart attacks to life in living rooms across the UK because understanding how one could feel might mean the difference between life and death."
Paul Phillips, Chief Executive Officer of the East Midlands Ambulance Service, says ambulance services across the UK fully support the BHF campaign. "We welcome any efforts that endeavour to save lives by teaching people how to identify a possible heart attack and encouraging them to call 999 more quickly. We'd rather attend a false alarm than arrive too late."
Supporting the campaign is well-known television presenter Angela Rippon, 64, who lost her father from a heart attack three years ago. She said; "I know exactly how heart breaking it can be to lose a loved one from a heart attack. My message to people is that you owe it to yourselves and your loved ones to tune into ITV1 on August 10. This could be the most important two minutes of television you ever see - I know I'll be watching."
Juliet Dearden (47), mother of two from London, says she'll definitely be telling her friends and family to watch. "I survived a heart attack last year because I acted immediately. Make sure you tune in so you know how to recognise the signs, these two minutes could save your life."
Notes:
[1] British Heart Foundation '2007 Coronary Heart Disease Statistics'
- For more information, visit http://www.2minutes.org.uk
- 'Watch your own heart attack' will be screened on ITV1, August 10 at 9.17pm
- The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is leading the battle against heart and circulatory disease - the UK's biggest killer. The charity is a major funder and authority in cardiovascular research. It plays an important role in education, both of the public and of health professionals, and in providing life-saving cardiac equipment and support for rehabilitation and care.
- The British Heart Foundation is inviting the nation to tune in and 'Watch Your Own Heart Attack'' on Sunday August 10th at 9.17pm on ITV1
- It may be the most important two minutes of TV you will ever see
- More information is available at http://www.2minutes.org.uk
- The campaign is backed by a host of high profile personalities including Angela Rippon, David Cameron, Ainsley Harriott and Jeremy Kyle
Heart Attack Facts
- One in three heart attack victims die before reaching hospital (1)
- It is estimated that every six minutes someone dies from a heart attack (2)
- The longer heart attack patients wait to call 999, the worse their chance of survival (3)
- People who get treatment 4-6 hours after experiencing symptoms are twice as likely to die as those who get treatment within 1-2 hours (3)
- People experiencing heart attack symptoms delay 90 minutes before an ambulance is called (4)
- By the time the treatment to restore blood flow to the heart is given, an average of 2 hours and 40 minutes have passed (4)
- Every year about 126,000 men and 101,000 women suffer heart attacks (1)
(1) British Heart Foundation '2007 Coronary Heart Disease Statistics'
(2) British Heart Foundation Oxford Statistics Group Data 2008
(3) The GUSTO investigators. An international randomised trial comparing four thrombolytic strategies for acute myocardial infarction. N Eng J Med1993; 329:763-682
(4) Myocardial Infarction National Audit Project (MINAP)