World Restart a Heart Day awareness in Greece

In mid-October 2026, Greece conducted various public health initiatives to observe World Restart a Heart Day. The National Center for Emergency Assistance (EKAB) launched a nationwide series of educational events from October 13 to October 17, focusing on teaching Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and the use of Automated External Defibrillators (AED). These sessions included practical demonstrations for the public, police officers, and primary school students in several regions, including Athens, Thebes, Livadia, Chania, and Heraklion.

Following these efforts, the Hellenic Red Cross joined international campaigns to promote cardiac arrest awareness and empower citizens to participate in the survival chain. Concurrently, the ‘Kids Save Lives’ initiative mobilized students across the country to attempt to break a national record for simultaneous CPR demonstrations.

On October 16, the ‘Kids Save Lives’ initiative successfully set a new national record. A total of 77,195 students from 1,227 schools participated in a synchronized CPR practice, surpassing the previous record of 60,650. The central event was held at the Thessaloniki International Exhibition and connected to schools nationwide via live digital links.

Additional local developments included the Melissidios Foundation donating six defibrillators to the Municipality of Heraklion for installation in local schools. Furthermore, the Greek Anesthesiologists Society marked the occasion by emphasizing the necessity of continuous training and patient safety within the field of anesthesiology, specifically commemorating the 180th anniversary of the first public demonstration of surgical anesthesia.

Following the primary awareness week, the Region of Crete’s ‘LIFE’ Program, in collaboration with the Eastern Mediterranean Institute of Technology (ELMEPA), held an educational training session at the university’s Heraklion campus. This session provided practical training in CPR, AED use, and essential first aid skills to hundreds of students, faculty, and staff, with expertise provided by the Hellenic Red Cross.