Light the Fire

Description

Light-the-FireSurvivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest face significant post-event psychological and cognitive challenges that extend beyond clinical intervention. Peer support has emerged as an essential complement to cardiac rehabilitation and clinical care, yet guidance on establishing effective peer support networks remains limited.

This practical implementation guide, based on eleven years of experience building and running Sudden Cardiac Arrest UK (4,000+ members), provides healthcare professionals, survivor leaders, and patient advocates with concrete methodology for establishing, growing, and sustaining peer support communities.

The guide addresses:

• Foundational principles for authentic survivor-led peer support
• Platform selection based on demographic accessibility
• Community culture and moderation best practice
• The co-survivor model and trauma-informed approaches to family support
• Integration with healthcare systems while preserving organisational independence
• Crisis response protocols and scope boundaries
• Volunteer management and succession planning
• Research partnership frameworks

Includes appendices with templates, moderation scripts, crisis protocols, and membership guidelines suitable for adaptation across healthcare contexts and international settings.