Do you know where your nearest defibrillator (AED) is? Call for information!

Do you know where your nearest defibrillator (AED) is? Call for information!

Members of the British Heart Foundation (BHF), Southport Links Rotary Club and North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) have been working together in Southport on a project that will map out Heart Defibrillators in the local area.

Since the beginning of the year they have located 106 Defibrillators within the Southport area. The project was developed from the Southport Group of the BHF and the group were pleased and relieved when they were offered help with the project by Southport Links Rotary Club. The joint group are now in the process of working with NWAS to create a map which will enable both the public and NWAS to locate a defibrillator in the event of a cardiac arrest. NWAS did an awareness month – SHOCTOBER – last year, when they asked for the public’s help so each defibrillator can be logged on North West Ambulance Service’s database so they can be used to save a life.

The BHF group and Southport Links Rotary Club are determined to support the NWAS in giving confidence to the local community by spreading the message that anyone can use a Defibrillator. The machines are simple and designed to give step by step guidance to people who may have never used one. If you come across someone who has had a cardiac arrest, it’s vital to call 999, start CPR and Defibrillation. If these steps can be put into practice within 4 minutes the patient has a 60-70% chance of survival.  With every minute that passes without CPR the chances of survival decrease by 10% per minute.

Although the group has tried very hard to trace each Defibrillator in the tow the may be some which they are do not know about. If you know of one in your area or organisation please contact North West Ambulance Service Cardiac Smart at www.cardiacsmart.nwas.nhs.uk and complete the link “Tell Us About Your Defib”.

The BHF Southport group is always looking for volunteers to fundraise and raise awareness of Heart Disease. The local group has now been re-formed with that aim.  If you are interested in supporting the BHF Southport group in any way please contact Hayley Gough on 07768980727.

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