QPR Match Delayed by One Minute for Kick-Off
A total of 36 EFL fixtures, including the match between Charlton Athletic and Queens Park Rangers (QPR), will experience a one-minute delay in kick-off times from February 5th to 9th, 2024. This initiative serves to highlight the importance of performing CPR efficiently, a crucial skill that can save lives.
Every Minute Matters Campaign
This delay is part of the Every Minute Matters campaign, launched by Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation. With support from the EFL, the campaign aims to promote CPR awareness and education. Since its inception in May 2024, it has encouraged over 400,000 individuals to learn CPR.
Heart Month and Goals
February is recognized as Heart Month. Both Sky Bet and the British Heart Foundation, in partnership with the EFL, are pushing their goal to have 500,000 people trained in CPR by the end of the month. Football fans are encouraged to get involved by utilizing the free online tool, RevivR.
- Campaign launched: May 2024
- Number of people trained in CPR: over 400,000
- Goal for February: 500,000 trained in CPR
Participate in Learning CPR
Fans can access the British Heart Foundation’s RevivR tool by searching for ‘BHF RevivR’ or visiting revivr.bhf.org.uk/efl. The EFL Chief Executive, Trevor Birch, emphasized the commitment of football clubs to their communities and the potential impact of CPR training. Birch stated, “This one-minute kick-off adjustment is a simple, powerful reminder that swift CPR can be the difference between life and death.”
British Heart Foundation ambassador Tom Lockyer echoed this sentiment, sharing his experience of survival due to CPR. Lockyer reminded fans that more than 40,000 people in the UK suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year, often without making it home.
The Power of Community in Football
Dr. Charmaine Griffiths, Chief Executive at the British Heart Foundation, highlighted the unique ability of football to unite communities. She stated, “These kick-off times are a powerful reminder that every minute matters in a cardiac arrest,” urging fans to learn CPR through RevivR, which only takes 15 minutes.
In conclusion, the adjusted kick-off times not only serve as a reminder of the critical importance of CPR but also encourage football fans to take action. Learning this life-saving skill could be pivotal in emergency situations.
