People across Worcestershire are being urged to learn how to restart a heart.

On Restart a Heart Day, on Wednesday, October 16, Worcestershire County Council is encouraging people to learn life saving skills, such as how to perform CPR and use a defibrillator.

Less than one in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, which is when the heart suddenly stops beating and breathing becomes abnormal or stops altogether.

Read more: RGS Worcester Family of Schools wins top independent school

Learning CPR and how to use a defibrillator can provide the best chance of survival for someone experiencing a cardiac arrest.

The British Heart Foundation offers a free online course, which takes just 15 minutes to complete, to teach people how to perform CPR.

The foundation also has a two-minute video on their website, explaining more about defibrillators and how to use them.

There are nearly 900 defibrillators across the county, located in public places like outside shopping centres, pubs, schools, and community centres.

To find the nearest defibrillator, visit www.defibfinder.uk.

Councillor David Ross, cabinet member for health and wellbeing at Worcestershire County Council, said: "Please take a few minutes this Restart a Heart Day to brush up on CPR and find out where the nearest defibrillator is; at home, work, and where you spend your free time."

He added: "You never know when you might be the first person available to help someone.

"Anyone can use a defibrillator.

"You do not need training.

"Once you turn it on, it will give clear step-by-step voice instructions."

There is funding available for communities without a defibrillator to acquire one.

Further information can be found on the Access to CPR and defibrillators pages of the Worcestershire County Council website.

If you already have a defibrillator, you are advised to ensure it is registered with the national defibrillator network, The Circuit, so emergency services can locate it, and also ensure it is regularly maintained and serviced.

Head to www.thecircuit.uk to register a defibrillator.

Restart a Heart Day is an annual campaign led by the Resuscitation Council UK, the British Heart Foundation, and other health organisations.