Be prepared – know how to use a defibrillator

On Saturday April 5th an enthralled and packed audience at the local hospital were given training on how to use a defibrillator by expert cardiologist, Jim Stirrup.

The audience were invited to practice their new skills on a dummy, leading to many questions being asked and answered.  It was a great learning experience for all the attendees and another fine example of how the League of Friends helps make a real difference for our community.

The following steps provided the background to cardiologist Jim Stirrup’s presentation. They are from the Resuscitation Council (UK) website:

Follow these short steps to learn how to save a life:
1.   Shout for help, and shake the person gently.
2.   Look and listen for signs of normal breathing.
3.   Call 999 on loudspeaker and tell them the person isn’t breathing.  The ambulance call handler will tell you where the nearest automated external defibrillator (AED) is. If someone is with you, ask them to fetch it and bring it back.
4.  Interlock your fingers and start chest compressions twice per second.  Don’t stop.
5.  If a defibrillator arrives, switch it on and follow the instructions. The defibrillator will talk you through the steps to take.
6.  Continue CPR until:

        – the AED asks you to pause while it reanalyses and gives another shock if needed
        –  a paramedic arrives and tells you what to do
        –  the person shows signs of life

Go to the Resuscitation Council UK website for more details.

If you would like to find your nearest defibrillator go to defibfinder.uk.

The League of Friends would like to say a very big thank you to Cardiologist Jim Stirrup for travelling on his day off to demonstrate how to use a defibrillator.

After the defibrillator demonstration all attendees were invited to have a free liver scan.  This too proved very popular and reassuring.