Defibrillator

We have a defibrillator (AED – automated external defibrillator) in the village that is available for anyone to use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  It is designed to be used in cardiac arrest situations when it will deliver a shock (if it deems one is necessary) to help to restart the patient’s heart into the normal rhythm.

It is kept in a locked box on the outside of the Community Centre in Shop Street, but the code is known by the ambulance service, who will give it out if you ever have need of it.

It comes with everything that you need, including a friction powered torch for use in the dark, and a kit containing tuff-cut scissors, razor, etc.

 

Following the “Chain of Survival” should mean that the patient has the best chance of surviving.

The first thing to do is make sure that the patient is safe, and that you are safe too.

Call for help to alert others around you.

If you are alone, lie him on his back, tilt his head back and lift the jaw to open his airway, check for breathing

Now call for an ambulance, preferably on speaker phone, explain the situation to the operator and get the code of the defibrillator at the Community Centre.

Send someone else to go and get the defibrillator for you and bring it to you – do not attempt to take the casualty to the Community Centre to get the defibrillator.

 If you are alone, start CPR, do not attempt to go and get the defibrillator but go and open the front door so the ambulance crew can get in when they arrive.

Start CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) – also known as chest compressions:

  • Press in the centre of the chest – between the nipples;
  • Lock the fingers of one hand with the other;
  • Press down about 5-6cm twice a second (120 beats per minute) – it is quite fast;
  • Do this 30 times;
  • Then 2 rescue breaths (tilt the head back, pinch the patient’s nostrils, take a normal breath in, cover the patients mouth completely and blow for 1 second.  Watch the chest rise, remove your mouth, and then repeat;
  • Re-commence CPR, 30 compressions to 2 rescue breaths, do this for as long as you can.

When the person comes back with the defibrillator, switch it on by pressing the green button in the middle of the front of the defibrillator.

Continue with CPR whilst someone else does the defibrillator bits and pieces.

The defibrillator will then talk you through what to do next, and it will show you what to do on the screen:

  • Cut all the clothes off the chest of the patient (including a bra) – rip it off if necessary, or use the scissors provided in the kit (they will cut through almost anything);
  • If they have a hairy chest, shave it to ensure a good contact with the pads;
  • Remove the pads from the back of the machine, and stick them where indicated;
  • Follow the instructions given by the defibrillator.

Continue CPR when told to by the defibrillator.

 

Only stop when told to do so by the ambulance operator, or a member of the ambulance crew.

 

If after using it, you feel as though you want to talk with a professional counsellor please contact the Parish Council on 627742 (Councillors Richard and Jackie Quinton), and they can arrange for someone who you can talk things through with you.

You can virtually try out what you have learned by visiting the “Lifesaver” website https://lifesaver.org.uk/films and have a go.

 

Remember, anyone can help to save a life!