On Saturday, October 11, 2025, the Amsterdam Oosterpark once again hosted the Restart a Heart Day , organized by OLVG. This annual day was entirely dedicated to CPR and life-saving techniques, giving Amsterdammers the opportunity to attend free workshops, ask questions to professionals, and practice on CPR mannequins themselves.
The day is part of the global movement World Restart a Heart, which highlights the importance of bystander CPR. By investing globally in awareness and training, survival chances in the event of cardiac arrest can be significantly increased — a message that was clearly felt during the event.
Visitors could participate in four free CPR workshops, led by experienced rapid responders, paramedics, and certified trainers.. For families with children, there was a special tent about childcare and emergency care for childrenwhere pediatricians and pediatric nurses provided explanations on topics such as choking, drowning, and CPR for young children.
In addition, there were simulated demonstrations by the police, fire department, and ambulance services, who demonstrated in a realistic way how emergency services collaborate during a crisis. There was also plenty of opportunity to ask questions: medical professionals explained treatments following CPR, such as angioplasty and ICU care, while pediatric specialists shared practical tips.
A particularly popular attraction were the interactive tents and emergency vehicleswhere visitors could explore an ambulance, police car, or fire truck. In the Laerdal-tent , participants could test their CPR skills.
The atmosphere was enthusiastic and eager to learn; visitors left not only with new knowledge but also with greater confidence to act in an emergency. OLVG succeeded in creating another valuable, accessible, and inspiring event with Restart a Heart Day, bringing the importance of CPR skills closer to the heart of the city.
More information about Restart a Heart can be found on the OLVG website: https://www.olvg.nl/restart-a-heart-day
