As many people know, Darryl Bass is our Community Lifesaver. We contacted him to find out more about life saving training here in the village:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A cardiac arrest can happen anywhere, to anyone and the survival rate from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is approximately 8%. Survival is only possible if someone recognises what has happened and starts CPR immediately and, if available, a defibrillator is used to restart the heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In my experience as a Paramedic, there is a critical delay in bystanders starting CPR and unfortunately a defibrillator is almost never used prior to the ambulance service arriving. Response times for an ambulance to our rural community is also a contributing factor that makes the need for bystanders to step in and help even more important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This was the reason I started the Community Lifesaver Initiative – a real-life project to improve the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest in our local community. Part of this initiative is my a 2-hour presentation and training session with the goal of making participants CPR confident. The training is specifically focused on helping someone that is in cardiac arrest. It was important from the beginning that the training was accessible to everyone so I decided that the sessions would not require participants to be assessed and practical participation would not be necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The session covers the essential knowledge and skills required to help someone that is in cardiac arrest. Including early recognition, calling for help, administering CPR and using an publicly available automated external defibrillator (AED).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The AED section of the course is particularly popular because prior to the training participants comment that they would be afraid in using the AED in case they do more harm. This is not the case, as an AED will talk you through the steps and it\u2019s impossible to shock someone if they do not require it. Allowing participants the opportunity to get hands-on experience of using an AED takes away any fears and all participants comment that they would be confident in using one after the training.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Over we have 2 publicly available AEDs; one at the Primary School and at the other at the Community Centre. They are available 24\/7 in locked boxes that are unlocked using a code that will be given to someone if advised to by the 999 call taker. Would you be confident to use it?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n My next Community Lifesaver session is on 12th April, 2pm to 4pm at the Over Community Centre. The session costs \u00a310 per person with all funds reinvested to purchase and maintain training equipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n