Thanks to incredible fundraising efforts, the Isle of Wight Ambulance Service Clinical Coordination Centre staff, along with the Ambulance Training & Community Response Services (ATCORS) have funded a new public access defibrillator located at The Three Bishops in the village of Brightstone.
Funding for this essential equipment, which is available 24/7, was raised by staff from the Ambulance Clinical Coordination Centre who took part in a charity run, as well as funds from ATCoRS. Maintenance of the defibrillator is being generously donated by the local community, thanks to the team at The Three Bishops.
Louise Walker, Ambulance Education, Training & Engagement Lead said: “I would like to sincerely thank Stacey and the team at The Three Bishops for all they have done and for very kindly taking on guardianship of the defibrillator. Having a Public Access Defibrillator available 24/7 is undoubtedly an asset to any community as the lifesaving device can greatly increase someone’s chance of survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
“If a person suffers an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, their chance of survival decreases by around 10% with every minute that defibrillation, if required, is delayed, which is why community public access defibrillators are so valuable.”
In support of this year’s Restart a Heart Day (October 16), the Ambulance Training and Community Response Services (ATCoRS) are offering free CPR and defibrillator awareness training throughout the rest of October and November.
The offer is available to charities and non-profit making organisations but there are a limited number of free places so please book early to avoid disappointment. Contact the ATCoRS team via www.isleofwightambulance.co.uk
Louise added: “We are also urging the public to register their defibrillators via www.thecircuit.uk as this is the network that connects the Ambulance Service with community defibrillators and asking all existing Circuit guardians to regularly check their defibrillator is emergency ready and update the Circuit.”
How to perform Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
When someone collapses and stops breathing normally, it is important to quickly call 999, perform hands-only CPR and use a defibrillator. Hands-only CPR reduces your risk of catching an infection.
Considering COVID-19, the steps you should take when performing CPR have changed but the need to perform CPR has not.
- If someone is collapsed and not breathing normally, do not put your face next to theirs
- Call for an ambulance
- Use a towel or piece of clothing and lay it over the mouth and nose
- Do not do mouth to mouth
- Start chest compressions to the tempo of “Stayin’ Alive”
- Use a Public Access Defibrillator if available
Further information about Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) is available online at www.resus.org.uk including a video that explains the steps you should take if you see someone in cardiac arrest.
