Make the Save Campaign

The Make the Save campaign, led by the Faculty of Patient Safety (FPS) in partnership with the Resuscitation Council, regional NHS Foundation Trust volunteers, and local football clubs, aims to improve survival rates from cardiac arrest through public CPR education.

The FPS was established to deliver timely educational resources tailored to the North East and North Cumbria, where cardiac arrest mortality rates among middle-aged men exceed national averages. In 2021, the North East Ambulance Service reported a bystander CPR rate of just 19%, compared to the national average of 43% and London’s 75%. Low CPR rates correlate with areas of social deprivation, though research suggests age and gender also influence willingness to act. MELISSA vehicles now carry Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), and all the staff are trained in their use.

Cardiac Arrest and Football

Cardiac arrest is a recognized risk in football. FIFA recorded 617 sudden cardiac deaths globally, mostly at amateur level, between 2002–2022; 35 occurred among professional players, with 25 fatalities despite immediate CPR. Studies link major football events to spikes in cardiovascular mortality, and recent reports highlight worsening spectator health post-COVID-19. Incidents at regional stadiums underscore the need for intervention.

First Official Event

The campaign debuted at Newcastle United’s match against Burnley on 6 December. Ahead of the game, the MELISSA bus visited the training ground for media engagement, including interviews with former player Shola Ameobi.

On match day, the team delivered 87 CPR awareness sessions to individuals and small groups across six stations, one every two minutes MELISSA was on location, to participants aged 6 to 91. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with calls for attendence at 3 – 4 events per season.

The Faculty of Patient Safety would like to thank all the volunteers for their time and making this first event a massive success.

Mike Bunn,

Ernie Woodhall,

Daniel Fabian,

Stuart Leddy,

Mahjubeen Akhtar,

Irene McLeavy.

The event was also made possible by Laerdal Medical and Resuscitation Council UK.

Future Plans

In 2026, the campaign will be supporting other regional home match day events. If you are interested in volunteering on the day at one of the events please register your interest below. This is open to healthcare staff, resident doctors and students who are BLS or ALS trainers, registered with the Resus Council as trainers or first responders with own medical indemnity.

Interested parties can email contact@northeastsimulation.co.uk.