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Stogumber Defibrillator
There is no danger in harming anyone with it by shocking them unnecessarily. It will only deliver a shock when needed. It will tell you when it is going to deliver a shock to defibrillate a ‘fibrillating’ heart. The defibrillator cannot revive a heart where there is no ‘fibrillation’. This condition is known as ‘flat lining’. Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) must be used to attempt to restore heart activity. CPR attempts to get oxygen to the brain and heart and lungs by regular ‘pumping’ of the breast. For adults this is done by using the knuckle of clasped hands on the patient’s sternum. CPR needs to be much less forceful on small bodies like babies and children. There are special instructions for CPR when used on babies and children. Babies are defined as younger than 12 months old. Children are defined as older than 12 months but younger than 8 years, for the purposes of CPR. The device is on a 4 year lease from the South West Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST) which started in 2015. Funds (£2000) were raised by parishioners to lease this from SWAST. The contract with SWAST includes:-
As a parishioner you are strongly advised to attend the annual training by SWAST. The CPR training coupled with the use of the defibrillator greatly increases the chances of survival from a heart attack. You have the potential to save someone’s life. That person may be a loved one or a neighbour or a visitor to the Village. Look out for the training dates which are advertised in Stogumber Standard as well as on the Village website’s diary. |