More than 70 volunteers took part in the fourth edition of a flash mob aimed at raising awareness of the importance of medical first aid, organised by the Romanian Red Cross near the Arch of Triumph to mark World Restart a Heart Day.

According to a statement sent by the organisers, the event featured two simultaneous activities: a resuscitation demonstration involving 42 volunteers and a traffic flash mob staged by 30 volunteers, both meant to highlight the importance of recognising a medical emergency, responding promptly and knowing first-aid techniques.

During the demonstration held around the Arch of Triumph, Romanian Red Cross volunteers stressed the importance of being knowledgeable of resuscitation techniques and responding quickly in the event of cardiac arrest.

In such situations, every second counts. Quickly recognising an emergency, alerting emergency services and initiating resuscitation by a trained bystander can make a decisive contribution to increasing the chances of survival before medical teams arrive, the organisers said.

'In an emergency, the actions of someone who knows how to provide first aid can make the difference between life and death. And I believe that everyone should know how to intervene when someone needs help. At the Romanian Red Cross, we want more and more people to learn these simple actions that can save lives. Because it is not just about knowledge, but also about having the courage and confidence to act when every second counts. Every year, we train increasingly more people, and we are pleased to see the growing interest in first aid. I would like us to reach a point where, whenever an emergency occurs, there is always someone who knows what to do. Because sometimes a person's life may depend on the person standing beside them,' Romanian Red Cross President Camelia Sucu said, according to the statement.

Meanwhile, 30 volunteers delivered an awareness message over 150 seconds through a choreographed performance on the pedestrian crossing on the central slip road of King Mihai I Boulevard, near the Arch of Triumph. Through this unconventional exploit, the volunteers turned an everyday location into an opportunity to reflect on the importance of first aid. The initiative was part of the national calendar of events marking the Romanian Red Cross's 150th anniversary.

The performance was accompanied by artist Cristina Kiseleff, who played the electric violin piece 'Ace of Hearts,' composed especially for the flash mob. The choreography was created by Ruxandra Stanciu.

By organising the fourth edition of the flash mob dedicated to World Restart a Heart Day, the Romanian Red Cross reaffirmed its commitment to promoting first-aid education and encouraging as many people as possible to acquire the skills needed to respond to emergencies. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Petronius Craiu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)