Easter Hunt for XEggsX Defibrillators
Spent much of this morning searching for Easter Defibrillators.
From Nil at 8.30 am I had found Two by 11.00 am. I was
pleased with myself!
One AED was demonstrated before me - it actually told me to keep calm and then proceeded to tell me how to find the pads and carry out the procedure in a cardiac arrest incident. I am now confident that I can cope.
The second was elsewhere. I was advised that my informant could bring it to me in a half a minute. One minute without treatment is a 25% possible loss - if I remember correctly! When I pointed out that I might be in the 12.5 % - the "promise" was that it would be less than 30 seconds! If fact I was reassured because they also had trained first aiders.
At the moment our town's 16,000 inhabitants have about 1 : 8000 coverage. I would have little chance if at home unless a first aider was there too. As yet we have not done the "isochronous maps" for at least, say 3.5 minutes' delivery of a defibrillator.
However, at the standard of 1 PAD per square mile, the town might be well protected with say, 6 to 8 public access defribillators (PADs). Concomitant resources would be equipped and trained communications staff and community first responders (CFRs). It would also help if most of the population was trained in CPR cardiopulmonary resusitation. A couple of months' ago I was "trained" (on a dummy torso) in about 2 minutes by a St John's Ambulance. volunteer
Also we have recruited one volunteer to the team to get the PADs rolled out!
One AED was demonstrated before me - it actually told me to keep calm and then proceeded to tell me how to find the pads and carry out the procedure in a cardiac arrest incident. I am now confident that I can cope.
The second was elsewhere. I was advised that my informant could bring it to me in a half a minute. One minute without treatment is a 25% possible loss - if I remember correctly! When I pointed out that I might be in the 12.5 % - the "promise" was that it would be less than 30 seconds! If fact I was reassured because they also had trained first aiders.
At the moment our town's 16,000 inhabitants have about 1 : 8000 coverage. I would have little chance if at home unless a first aider was there too. As yet we have not done the "isochronous maps" for at least, say 3.5 minutes' delivery of a defibrillator.
However, at the standard of 1 PAD per square mile, the town might be well protected with say, 6 to 8 public access defribillators (PADs). Concomitant resources would be equipped and trained communications staff and community first responders (CFRs). It would also help if most of the population was trained in CPR cardiopulmonary resusitation. A couple of months' ago I was "trained" (on a dummy torso) in about 2 minutes by a St John's Ambulance. volunteer
Also we have recruited one volunteer to the team to get the PADs rolled out!
7 Comments
1 The "public" leisure centres seem to have them as a standard in our district;
2 All fire stations (I understand) of the Kent Fire and Rescue Service have them - but they may be out of reach when the appliance(s) attends an emergency incident.
3 All South East Coast Ambulance Service ambulances have AEDs (I feel certain but need to check).
4 Where Community First Responder schemes (CFRs) are in operation trained personnel will almost certainly have an AEG with them or know where the local PADs are situated.
We can all help in this particular concern by sharing information about the availability of PADs (public access defibrillators) and semi-private AEGs in our neighbourhoods. For example, many companies have AEDs on their premises, and with trained personnel.
Finally, suggest we all learn CPR - make it an Easter pledge to ourselves. We could ask the Red Cross or St John's Ambulance for guidance. Even the doctor's surgery might be willing to run a course - probably take about five minutes.
If any Drop By members would kindly pass on information about their discovered PADs and AEDs (no matter where) to their council we might find the "process" picked up more widely.
The likely outcome is the saving of tens of lifes or 10s of less severely damaged quality of life for those assisted by the users (knowing of the position of the PADs etc).
1 they are PADs
2 if AEDs the "owner" is willing to release them in an emergency - it may been withdrawing cover from a vulnerable group for instance, etc.
Personally I would like to see very local knowledge readily available on websites that the local residents are familiar with by local comment and features about it, etc.
Also local information (or lack of it) it may help to highlight where one or two PADs may be needed in a District or Borough.
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