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HAPPY H E A R T S First Aid Tips By Sammy Davies You might have seen one at your local shopping centre, or out the front of the pub. They are common in town halls and churches, and sports clubs. I am talking about Automatic External Defibrillators (but that is a bit of a mouthful, so let’s just call them ‘defibrillators’). In fact, when you start noticing defibrillators, you tend to see them everywhere. And for good reason, too. A defibrillator delivers an electric shock to the victim of a cardiac arrest, aiming to restore a normal heart rhythm. Each minute of delay before a defibrillator is used decreases the likelihood of survival from hospital discharge by 10%. So every single minute counts. This is exactly why we are seeing so many defibrillators in the community. The great thing about defibrillators is that they are designed to be used by anyone. The instructions are clear, with the machine guiding you through each step. Get those vivid images of rubbing two steel pads together and shouting “CLEAR” in a loud American accent out of your head- technology has improved and you are not George Clooney from ER. You will have to, however, apply pads to the bare chest www.happyheartsfirstaid.com as directed by the machine, and check that everyone is “standing clear” when prompted. The device does not allow you to deliver an electrical shock unless it recognises a lethal cardiac arrhythmia. The defibrillators are portable, meaning you can take them straight to the victim. Normally, however, you will require a code from the emergency services to unlock the surrounding cabinet. It is important to note that interruptions to CPR should be kept to an absolute minimum, so someone who is not performing CPR should go to collect the defibrillator. I hope that I have been able to give you a snippet of useful information without scaring the pants off you. If you fancy some more info, The British Heart Foundation has some great resources if you search within their website www.bhf.org.uk Next time you are out and about, take a mental note of where these devices are kept. Early defibrillation really does save lives. @happyheartsfirstaid Chiltern Restoration Antique & Modern Furniture Repair French Polishing & Modern Spray Finishes Re-upholstery (Traditional & Modern) Dining Tables Re-polished Chair Caning & Re-gluing Onsite Work & Delivery Service Tel: 01494 438052 Web: www.chilternrestoration.co.uk Email: [email protected] hiyabucks.com | 23