A defibrillator is a life-saving machine that gives the heart an electric shock in some cases of cardiac arrest. This is called defibrillation and can save lives.
Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops pumping blood around the body. When someone has a cardiac arrest, defibrillation needs to be prompt.
For every minute that passes without defibrillation chances of survival decrease by 14 per cent.
Research shows that applying a controlled shock within five minutes of collapse provides the best possible chances of survival.
The beauty of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is that no prior training is needed to use it. Once swtiched on, the machine tells you what to do. It will not deliver a shock when none is needed.
Kingsbridge Estuary Rotary Club provided the AED now on the wall outside Well Pharmacy in Ilbert Road close to the Quay. We have also funded the provision of an AED in one of the local police cars.
We understand that the Well Pharmacy AED is one of the most used in Devon.
Local residents and business people attending a demonstration of the AED by a member of SW Ambulance Service.
South Hams Newspapers have an online map showing the locations of AEDs in the South Hamshere.There's a QR code each week in the paper which you can scan with a smartphone to bring up this map.
more We we are looking for people, Rotarians and non-Rotarians, to join a team training the public in CPR and use of a defibrillator. Contact us to express an interest.
more Supplied by Rotary to replace the previous one.
more Making more AEDs available in the community.
more Links and videos
more KINGSBRIDGE Estuary Rotary Club trained their thousandth person in lifesaving skills in January 2017
back We've suspended CPR and AED training during the coronavirus outbreak. This page has a link to a refresher document with updated guidance.