Life-saving States workers urge public to learn CPR

The visitor to the offices collapsed with a cardiac arrest.

Income support officer Jackie Pattimore, security guard Ashley Matthews and facilities manager Christina Bacon worked together to perform CPR on the man, who had collapsed in the reception and was going into cardiac arrest,

and speak with emergency services.

Mrs Bacon was covering reception when she saw a man approaching the building and looking unsteady on his feet.

‘He was quite wobbly, he had a stick and was holding onto the frame, we jumped up, and knew something was going to happen,’ she said.

It was then that the man fell face down in the reception area.

Miss Pattimore has been volunteering with St John Ambulance for 20 years, and spotted the signs of a TIA – also known as a mini-stroke – almost immediately. Mrs Bacon grabbed the on-site defibrillator.

And Mr Matthews, who has worked as a carer in the past, was aware of what do next. He said he also suspected a TIA initially.

‘I went down to his face and he was unresponsive. You kind of just let it happen, there’s not much you can do, I was trying to reassure him.’

The emergency services were called straight away and they supported the three staff members as they tried to save the man.

Mr Matthews said the man, who had stopped breathing, would have died were it not for the fast response. He and Miss Pattimore took turns performing CPR and using the defibrillator, which they said was exhausting.

‘It was fortunate that it was his heart that was the issue because we had the defib,’ said Miss Pattimore. ‘It’s about the chain of survival, we had help in less than two minutes.

‘I was shattered doing it. Afterwards it is a bit of an adrenaline shot. We were lucky we got the help quickly, but we were prepared to keep going until we couldn’t go anymore. We saved his life, and he came around just before going in the ambulance.

‘It meant a lot to receive the recognition and it is a good feeling to know we made a difference to someone’s life on that day. You train for the worst-case scenario but hope you will never

have to put those skills into practice.’

The patient was flown to Southampton for treatment but has since visited Edward T Wheadon House to thank the three in person.

‘It’s so worth it to be trained. You just don’t know who is going to come through the door,’ said Miss Pattimore.

Mrs Bacon said people should not be afraid to help if they suspect someone needs medical assistance.

‘It’s better than doing nothing. I believe everyone should have this lifesaving skill.’

The three States workers were given the Chief Officers Recognition of Performance award by St John Ambulance for their quick thinking.

‘When someone collapses, becomes unconscious and stops breathing, it is important that someone recognises a cardiac arrest, calls 999, starts CPR and attaches a defibrillator if one if available. These are the first steps in the chain of survival and can be the difference between a life lost and a life saved,’ said chief ambulance officer Mark Mapp.

‘Thanks to their training and prompt actions Jackie, Ashley and Christina were able to make a difference when it really matters. I would like to congratulate them on their actions.’