‘Learn resuscitation skills and potentially save a life’
EVERY minute that passes without the use of a defibrillator on someone having a cardiac arrest reduces their chance of survival by 10%, islanders were told at an AED training course.
During Restart a Heart week, the Cardiac Action Group and St John are giving islanders the opportunity to learn life-saving skills and gain the confidence to help save someone’s life when they have a cardiac arrest.
Community resuscitation development officer Mike Froome organised a week of free events, all of which have been fully booked.
At one session at the St Martin’s Community Centre, he stressed that anybody can have a cardiac arrest, whatever their age or fitness level, so it is really important that members of the public know what to do.
‘First, it’s important to ensure that the person who has collapsed is not in dangerous surroundings, then shake them, shout at them and pinch their shoulders to see if they respond.
‘If they do not, you have to assume they are unconscious, so shout loudly for help and dial 999 or 112, which is free from any phone,’ he said.
‘Then, start chest compressions, it is the best way to keep someone alive until a defibrillator arrives.’
Often people are worried they will do something wrong and get sued. But in the whole of Europe no one has ever been sued for trying to help someone by giving chest compressions (CPR), he told them.
‘The only thing worse than going into cardiac arrest is having people around you stand there and do nothing.’
A team member from the Joint Emergency Services Control Centre will answer the 999 call and give a code for an AED if the incident is suspected to be a cardiac arrest.
It must not be applied if the person is having a heart attack. Someone having a heart attack is likely to still be conscious and complaining of a tight or crushing feeling in their chest, often with a pins-and-needles sensation in their arms, hands or legs.
Cardiac arrest signals are if the person is unconscious and unresponsive, has no sign of breathing and is not moving naturally. Also, they might go a greyish colour and be sweating.
Mr Froome said: ‘There’s a good chance you will know the person, they might be a friend, a family member, or a colleague.
‘It’s likely to be scary, but you must trust yourself that applying fast chest compressions, calling for help and following the instructions on a defibrillator are rapidly increasing their chance of survival.’
A big difference in the Restart a Heart training this year was that, due to the risk of spreading Covid-19, only hand compressions were taught, not mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.
During the practical training session where members of the public could attempt chest compressions on a mannequin, several mentioned how tiring it was.
‘That is why you call for help – and the more people around the patient who know the skills, the better,’ Mr Froome said.
‘You must push down about 5cm or 2.5 inches to push the blood out the heart, and then release enough for it to refill before pushing again,’ he said.
‘Do it to the beat of “ha, ha, ha, ha, staying alive, staying alive” – although singing it out loud while you do it might not be the most appropriate.’
To learn more, pop along to one of the free public sessions on Friday and Saturday at Admiral Park Waitrose at 10.30am, or Market Square on Saturday between 11am and 2pm.
