Wednesday 9th April 2014 – 8.30am – Suzie Fothergill.
Whitebridge Estates have their finger on the pulse and have recently invested in two lifesaving defibrillators for their site in Stone.
The Community Public Access Defibrillators (CPADs) which were purchased by the Estate went live on the 1st April.
Twenty- seven members of staff from across the site have now been trained in the use of the defibrillator and first aid techniques.
Victoria Tufail, West Midlands Ambulance Service Community Response Manager said: “As a service we strongly believe that by having defibrillators installed in public places and by having people trained in their use, helps to ensure that the best care possible can be provided quickly and effectively prior to the arrival of an ambulance.
“The quicker someone in cardiac arrest is defibrillated, not only improves the chance of their survival, but it can also help to improve the chances of a patient’s full recovery and reduce the time to do so. For every minute a patient is in cardiac arrest their chance of survival decreases by 10 percent. So every second really does count!”
Should anyone suffer a cardiac arrest the first port of call should always be to dial 999 and commence CPR immediately. However, anyone dialing 999 to report a cardiac arrest within the Whitebridge Estates area of Stone will now be advised of the location of the defibrillator and given the code to open the secure cabinet in which it is housed. The ambulance call assessor has the ability to talk any caller, trained or untrained, through instructions in how to use the device. The defibrillator itself also provides voice guidance throughout and pictorial guides are also present.
Jamie Richards, Director of Midlands Safety Training and AED Sales UK said: “It’s really is great to be educating local people in the use of defibrillators and basic life support. We certainly hope that these units do not have to be used but it is vital that we start to promote and make people aware of the need of these lifesaving pieces of equipment”
Ends
Pictured: Estates Manager, Phil Darby and Whitebridge Estates employees carrying out the defibrillator training.
For more information about community access defibrillators within Staffordshire please contact Victoria.tufail@wmas.nhs.uk
For more information about AED Sales please call 08458 622527 or visit http://www.aedsalesuk.co.uk