“Safe Greece”
at the 1st Restart a Heart Gave Time
to Life and Life to Time in the
Municipality of Hersonissos!
Crete, 19–20 October 2026. The “1st Restart a Heart”
event was presented to approximately 300 people by the Municipality of
Hersonissos, Savvas Perakis and the Greek Lifesaving Sports Association (GLSA),
combining CPR, fire awareness and survival at sea as part of the Safe Greece program.
A Celebration of Prevention and Rescue
The “1st Restart a Heart” event was successfully held
in Hersonissos, Crete, to mark World Restart a Heart Day. The Agia Paraskevi
Open-Air Theatre was filled with students, teachers and members of the public,
who attended interactive presentations and received training in lifesaving
skills for emergency situations.
CPR
Participants learned how to recognize cardiac arrest,
perform chest compressions, use an automated external defibrillator (AED) and
respond to choking emergencies. Hands-on practice with training manikins
demonstrated that timely intervention by an ordinary citizen can make the
difference between life and death.
Fire Awareness
The Fire Service's presentation focused on fire prevention, the selection and proper use of fire extinguishers, and the safe management of emergencies. The message was clear: remaining calm and possessing the necessary knowledge are invaluable tools for personal and public safety.
Survival at Sea
The highlight of the event took place at the port of
Hersonissos, where Dr. Stathis Avramidis, President of GLSA and Secretary
General of the Mediterranean Lifesaving Confederation, led an impressive
shipwreck simulation. Before a large audience, participants demonstrated
survival techniques, protection against hypothermia, entering the water from a
vessel, boarding a liferaft and using emergency survival equipment.
Particular emphasis was placed on the huddle position
for conserving body heat and teamwork when facing dangers at sea. The
demonstration illustrated that survival is not simply a matter of luck but, to
a significant extent, the result of knowledge, training and sound
decision-making.
International Support
The event formed part of GLSA's educational program “Safe
Greece,” implemented with the support of the Princess Charlene of Monaco
Foundation and the International Swimming Hall of Fame. This
international collaboration strengthens the promotion of drowning prevention
throughout Greece.
Honorary Recognition and
Acknowledgements
In a warm atmosphere, Dr. Avramidis presented a GLSA honorary distinction to Mayor Zacharias Doxastakis, recognizing the Municipality's contribution to promoting safety. The Major Sponsor was MINOAN LINES, while King Minos Retreat Resort & Spa also supported the event through the generous assistance of its General Manager, Giorgos Koufakis.
The two-day initiative continued the following day at
the “Menelaos Parlamas” Municipal Library, with four-hour first aid
seminars conducted under the guidance of Savvas Perakis.
The People Behind the Initiative
The Mayor of Hersonissos, Zacharias Doxastakis,
expressed his satisfaction with the participation of young people, emphasizing:
“Today's response from our citizens, and particularly from our young people,
fills us with optimism.” He also stressed that safety education should become
part of everyday life and revealed the Municipality's intention to explore
further collaboration with GLSA on future initiatives.
Dr. Stathis Avramidis, an internationally awarded scientist, author and researcher,
emphasized the importance of practicing individual and team rescue techniques.
He thanked the Municipality for its hospitality, noting that such innovative
initiatives bring the knowledge of prevention and rescue directly into society.
Savvas Perakis, a final-year student at the School of Physical Education and Sport Science of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and a first aid instructor, expressed his emotion at seeing his idea become a reality. He highlighted the need to develop similar educational initiatives in regional communities and expressed his hope that the event would become an established annual tradition.
Dr. Giorgos Mastorakis, Deputy Mayor for Public Health, Social Policy, Social Protection and Solidarity, reminded the audience that providing assistance is not the exclusive privilege of healthcare professionals. He emphasized that continuous education enables every citizen to make a meaningful contribution to protecting human life.
Katerina Thrapsanioti, Deputy Mayor for Tourism and President of the Municipal Port Fund, played a decisive role in supporting the organization of the event. The planning of the initiative also included cooperation with the Hersonissos Port Authority, the Police, the Municipal Police and the Kastelli Health Center, represented by pediatrician Dr. Anna Christoforaki. Significant organizational assistance was provided by Maria Hatzaki, a nurse with the Municipality's Help at Home program, while Maria Leventaki and Konstantina Bourlaki provided secretarial support. GLSA members Leandros Stefanakis, MSc, Anna Chrysochoou and Iosifina Avramidou and the Perrakis Family attended the event. Thodoris Chatzianestis was responsible for audiovisual coverage, while lifeguard safety coverage was provided by the school operated by Myron Chachlioutakis and Manos Koxarakis.
The Message
The message from Hersonissos extends far beyond the shores of Crete: knowledge saves lives. And the best rescue is the one for which we are prepared. As Deputy Mayor Mastorakis poetically expressed it, this was a commendable initiative “that gave time to life and life to time!”
