On Saturday 27 September 2025, ambulance colleagues and volunteers from across the country took part in the annual Lifesavers campaign organised by the British Islamic Medical Association (BIMA) and supported by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE).
The initiative saw ambulance services working alongside BIMA volunteers to deliver essential lifesaving training in mosques, including how to perform CPR, use a defibrillator, and assist someone who is choking. More than 200 people were supported across six mosques nationwide, from Yorkshire to London.
At Madni Mosque in Bradford, Nagina, a paramedic with Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS), helped lead a session for 25 participants, featuring hands-on demonstrations. She said;
The event went really well. It was an engaging and positive session that truly reflected the energy and community spirit of the day.
Attendees praised Nagina’s professionalism and approachable manner. Sofian, mosque lead at Jamia Masjid in Bradford, expressed his appreciation for YAS’s involvement, describing the sessions as “an essential asset” that help the community feel more confident and prepared in emergencies.
Atif Siddiqui, from South Woodford Islamic Centre in London, commented;
Thank you so much to you and your team for attending and supporting us today. Your presence was incredibly helpful, and the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) training in particular was a fantastic addition.
In Manchester, Fiona Larkin, Community Resuscitation & Engagement Officer at North West Ambulance Service (NWAS), delivered training at Ikhlass Mosque. Fiona said;
Everyone was so welcoming. Participants asked thoughtful questions and were genuinely engaged, which created a really positive atmosphere. One attendee became emotional during the session and later shared that she had previously performed CPR on a family member. Saturday’s training reassured her that she had taken the right steps, giving her a real sense of closure.
Liam Sagi, National Strategic Lead for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest at AACE, said;
We were delighted to collaborate with BIMA on Lifesavers Day and to strengthen our relationship with communities, helping to build confidence in responding to emergencies.
We look forward to building on this next year, supporting even more vital training in mosques across the country.
