Volunteers of the “Move the Heart” campaign taught Ed Sheeran’s fans how to give first aid in cases of sudden cardiac arrest. They showed that just a few simple steps can save a life – and that the involvement of bystanders in the first minutes is crucial for survival.
For two days, Wrocław became Europe’s music capital. Ed Sheeran, the world-famous British singer-songwriter known for hits such as “Shape of You,” “Perfect” and “Thinking Out Loud,” played two concerts at Tarczyński Arena as part of his Mathematics Tour. On 15 and 16 August, the stadium was filled with 110,000 fans – not only from Wrocław and Lower Silesia, but also from across Poland, the Czech Republic and Germany. The atmosphere was electric and full of musical energy.
A first aid lesson before the show
Before fans heard Ed Sheeran live on Friday evening, they were welcomed with a special lesson outside Tarczyński Arena. Volunteers of the “Move the Heart” campaign, run by Wroclaw Medical University, showed participants how to save lives in the event of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
Medical students demonstrated that in an emergency, a few simple steps are enough: check breathing, call for help, and perform chest compressions until the ambulance arrives. The activity attracted great interest – many fans stopped to try resuscitation on training manikins and learn what CPR looks like in practice.
Everyone can save a life
The “Move the Heart” campaign carries a simple but powerful message: everyone can save a life. In Poland, sudden cardiac arrest claims around 40,000 lives every year; in Europe, as many as 700,000. The “chain of survival” depends on bystander reaction in the very first minutes – before professional help arrives. Quick action, calling emergency services and starting compressions can increase the victim’s chances of survival several times.
Sadly, survival rates in Poland are only 9–12%, much lower than in countries such as the Czech Republic, where up to 90% of bystanders take action. Fear and lack of knowledge remain major barriers.
Thanks to WMU volunteers outside Ed Sheeran’s Friday concert, fans saw that saving a life is simpler than it seems – and, just like music, has the power to move hearts.
“Move the Heart” in public spaces
The campaign has been run by WMU for two years, with training sessions taking place in a variety of public spaces: at sports events, universities, cultural festivals, shopping malls, Wrocław Zoo, Hydropolis, and the Corporate Run. It has also reached fans of Dawid Podsiadło. Doctors and medical students continue to prove that when sudden cardiac arrest strikes, just a few immediate actions – check breathing, call for help, start chest compressions – can save lives. Knowledge of first aid is spreading, and more and more people are finding the courage to step in and act.
