From what started off as just an idea, now in its eighth consecutive year, BIMA Lifesavers is an annual project uniting healthcare professionals and students to inspire and serve their community through teaching basic life support skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, to recovery position and choking management in Mosques across the nation. The project is delivered on a single day every year in September whilst expanding from three mosques in East London in 2014 to becoming the biggest international BLS teaching programme in 2021. 

Lifesavers will be taking place on Saturday 25th September 2021 at over 80 mosques nationally and in 12 countries globally, after Zuhr Salah. You canfind your local participating Mosque here. Further information can be found on the BIMA site.

 Despite CPR & other lifesaving skills being universal across healthcare professionals & students, our communities still have a lot to learn and knowledge to acquire. By teaching life-saving skills to members of the public year on year, BIMA Lifesavers equips our communities to unite, inspire & save lives: utilising the mosques as the centres of our Ummah, opening the doors to Muslims & non-Muslims every year.

Volunteers from the RUMS dept of ISOC out at the Eritrean Muslim Community Association on behalf of @BritishIMA as part of a global initiative to teach our communities life saving skills!#bimalifesavers #BIMA pic.twitter.com/d2wSCZtS3S

— UCL Islamic Society (@uclisoc) September 28, 2019

In recent years, the project has been delivered in over 114 mosques across the country teaching over 4400 members of the public vital life-saving skills.  It was adapted to be taught online during the pandemic. The skills are taught and tailored to everyone irrespective of their age, faith, language, gender, or race through the three-step technique of explaining the theory, demonstrating, and providing the participants with the opportunity to practice and perfect their technique. 

The difference Lifesavers is making has been recognisable. There are many instances where the life-saving skills have had to be used as soon as the week after Lifesavers as this gentleman reports: 

‘I didn’t realise that about a couple of days after last year’s event, I was using my skills to stop a vulnerable lady choking. We had been practising back slaps and abdominal thrusts at the first aid event and it meant that my skills were up to date. This may have saved her life.’

Participant feedback in 2020 revealed that over 51% of people had done BLS training in the past.  Thus, over half of the learners joined the project despite having already learnt the skill in the past. The Lifesavers project has proven to be able to engage community members to learn and refresh the skills on annual basis and experience the joy of learning such important skills to help others.    

The BIMA Lifesavers programme follows the BHF Heartstart programme teaching:

1. CPR,
2. Recovery Position,
3. Management of choking.

Each of these skills are taught in a three-step method:

1. A thorough explanation of the theory at the beginning,

2. A practical demonstration,

3. A chance for participants to practice and perfect their technique.

Lifesavers, is one of the several community-focused projects fore-fronted by British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA). BIMA strives to promote the contributions of Muslim professionals to healthcare in Britain, support Muslim healthcare professionals and students in career development, orientation, and other work-related issues such as Hijab in Theatre & Bare Below the Elbows, whilst addressing health inequalities and challenges faced by Muslim staff and patients such as Organ and Blood Donation, Cancer Screening etc.

In summary, Allah ﷻ states in the Holy Qur’an (5:32): ‘And whoever saves the life of one person, it is as if he has saved the whole of humankind.’ This project is an opportunity to act on this verse and be part of a far-reaching and lifelong positive impact on people’s life. Learning essential basic life support skills can be Lifesaving! 

Mosques up and down the country are taking part so find your local participating Mosque here.

Shahjalal mosque will be hosting the Lifesavers training this coming Saturday 25th September (after Zuhr). Eveyone is welcome.

Sisters session will also take placeat the same time (Entrance via 3rd Ave).

Please share with others. pic.twitter.com/TyCGt2RPDJ

— Manor Park Islamic Cultural Centre (@Shahjalal_MPICC) September 23, 2021

🔊 2 DAYS LEFT TO GO! Join us at your local mosque to learn:
1️⃣CPR
2️⃣Recovery position
3️⃣Choking management

🕌Find your local masjid: https://t.co/99SsIWh2dJ

Do you know Basic Life Support? Join us to help teach at your local mosque on 25.09.21 https://t.co/7xRyFJcfQ2 pic.twitter.com/5R6LMmOh77

— British Islamic Medical Association (@BritishIMA) September 23, 2021