YORKSHIRE Ambulance Service has launched a social media campaign to encourage potential life-savers.

The scheme, which challenges people to learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), sees supporters use Twitter or Instagram to get the message across.

Ambulance staff and volunteers will visit 91 secondary schools on Friday October 16 - European Restart a Heart Day - to teach CPR to more than 20,000 children.

It will be the biggest event of its kind ever seen in the world and as part of the huge education initiative, YAS has launched the social media campaign.

Local celebrities, ambulance staff and members of the public are being encouraged to post videos declaring their support for Restart a Heart Day and encouraging others to learn CPR.

The campaign was kicked off by Leeds United captain Sol Bamba, whose video can be seen here.

Jason Carlyon, resuscitation manager for YAS, said: “We are encouraging as many people as possible to follow the lead of Sol Bamba and support our social media campaign to raise the profile of the importance of members of the public knowing how to do CPR; the benefits of which cannot be underestimated.

"If someone suffers a cardiac arrest, their chances of survival double if it happens in front of a bystander who immediately starts CPR before our arrival.

“In my job, I have come across some amazing case studies of people of all ages who would not be alive today had it not been for the skills of a bystander who had taken the trouble to learn CPR. So please make a difference, support our campaign and learn CPR.”

Yorkshire-born celebrity chef James Martin said: “I want everybody to support Yorkshire Ambulance Service on Restart a Heart Day.

"Teaching CPR to secondary schoolchildren is invaluable and I want to say a big well done to all those children who will be involved.

"In Yorkshire, especially with its many remote areas, knowing how to do CPR really can mean saving lives.”

How do I take part?

  • 1. Film yourself saying “Why don’t you learn CPR? I nominate ‘insert name of person’ to support Restart a Heart Day.”
  • 2. Post on either Twitter or Instagram with the user name @YorksAmbulance, the user name of the person you are nominating and the message ‘repeat this script #supportyasrestartaheart’.