(Image: WMAS)
Over the weekend, the life of former England international footballer Glenn Hoddle was saved by the quick actions of a sound engineer who started CPR and used a defibrillator when he suffered a cardiac arrest.
Each year, West Midlands Ambulance Service attends about 4,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests. Sadly, only about 7% of those people will survive. It’s a shocking figure, especially when in some countries like Denmark, the figure is around 25%. This is because the number of people who know CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and are prepared to act is too small.
When someone has a cardiac arrest, every second counts. The patient will be unconscious and their heart won’t be beating – they are clinically dead and will stay that way unless someone is prepared to do something.
Giving CPR buys the patient time, so the ambulance service can get there. You can’t hurt the person; doing something can only help. For every minute after the patient’s heart has stopped, their chance of survival drops by 10%, so you can see why time is of the essence.
While CPR can buy you time, it is the use of a defibrillator that will get save the patient. There are now thousands of AEDS – automatic external defibrillators – in the community. You’ve probably seen them at airports, railway stations, but increasingly on the walls of village shops, supermarkets and even old telephone boxes.
The question is; do you know where your nearest defibrillator is? If not, make sure you find out as your life, or the life of a loved one could depend on it.
Senior paramedic Nick Henry says: “I can only speak personally, but saving a life is the most incredible experience; knowing that your actions mean someone will get to spend time with their loved ones when they wouldn’t otherwise have had that chance.
“You don’t need any training to use an AED; they actually tell you what to do, so please take the time to find the closest device to your home and work at least and you could save a life”.
A cardiac can strike anyone at any time: it could be a loved one, a friend, a complete stranger. If you know what to do, you could help save their life. It doesn’t take long to learn and there are many courses taking place all over the region.
