Nottinghamshire Fire Service have announced that every fire station in the county has now been fitted with a defibrillator.
Defibrillators are an extremely vital piece of lifesaving equipment and the ones housed at the county’s fire stations have been used 25 times, twice in the last year at West Bridgford and Southwell sites.
They are especially important when dealing with heart attacks, using electric shocks to stabilise the heartbeat, vastly increasing the chance of a patient surviving.
However, the fire service are also recommending the ‘Chain of Survival,’ encouraging the public to first call 999 and starting immediate CPR before finding a defibrillator.
Graham Tuckwood, crew manager from Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “These defibrillators are another example of how we can keep our communities safe.
“It is important to remember that lives are saved by following the ‘Chain of Survival’, not just with a defibrillator. If you see somebody you suspect to be experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest, call 999 first and begin immediate CPR. Follow any further instructions over the phone.”
The public are encouraged to learn important first aid such as resuscitation, with trained responders at 999 able to guide them through it in case of an emergency.
This may include use of a defibrillator, which are becoming more and more available around the county.
James Hornby, Operational Support Manager at East Midlands Ambulance Service said: “East Midlands Ambulance Service actively encourage the placement of Public Access Defibrillators by organisations, businesses and communities.
“The more readily available defibrillators are alongside people willing to act in an emergency will undoubtedly lead to improved survival rates for patients suffering out of hospital cardiac arrests.”
“Using a defibrillator on a person experiencing cardiac arrest as soon as possible gives the best chance of survival.” James Hornby of EMAS
East Midlands Ambulance Service have created this video teaching you how to perform CPR, including when you may need to use a defibrillator.
