Revival Volunteer Register Training New AEDs

Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrests (OHCAs) present a significant public health challenge, with timely intervention proving crucial in improving survival rates.  In the UK, there are approximately 60,000 cardiac arrests annually. Resuscitation is attempted in only about half of these, but fewer than 1 in 10 survive. 

Many people who collapse with cardiac arrest can be saved if people nearby:

- recognise what has happened

- call for an emergency ambulance immediately  

- start and continue cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) – especially chest compressions

- use an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to shock the heart back to its normal rhythm.

The use of an AED increases the chance of survival 

Every minute of delay reduces the chance of survival by 10%.

Across the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area there have been 2,400 incidents of OHCA where the use of a defibrillator may have been instrumental in saving lives.

What is a defibrillator?

A defibrillator is a life-saving device that delivers an electric shock to the heart in sudden cardiac arrest to restore a normal heart rhythm. These are easy to use in an emergency because they provide voice and visual prompts, and will only deliver a shock if the heart's rhythm is abnormal. An AED is an Automated Access Defibrillator.

Community Public Access Defibrillators (CPAD) are AED devices that can be found, mostly in cabinets on the outside of buildings, and are available 24/7 to members of the public to access in an emergency.

Anyone can use a defibrillator; you do not need to be trained, but you should call emergency services first.

HOW IS ROTARY HELPING

Llandudno Rotary are working to enhance CPAD Management, Community Readiness, and Lifesaving Capability across all the council Wards of our communities.

Imagine Llandudno Rotary's reaction when we found that 25% of Llandudno's Community Public Access Defibrillators (CPAD) were not available for use due to lack of maintenance. We created the Rotary Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Programme (ROHCAP) and in conjunction with Save a Life Cymru

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Working together to build a nation of lifesavers through CPR and defibrillation

We jumped into action liaising with NHS Save a Life Cymru (part of the Welsh Ambulance Service) we advertised for volunteers to help some of our members check and maintain the devices not in use.

Within a month we had recruited volunteers, - our CPAD Guardians, held a training session and registered with the British Heart Foundation's TheCircuit application in order to record Rotary as managing the CPAD devices. 

We then visited each device with our CPAD Guardians, replaced out of date pads and checked each device was  ready for service, updated the records used by the emergency services so that all these devices are now available to members of the public in an emergency.  A big THANK YOU to our volunteer Guardians. 

Join us today and become a Rotary CPAD Guardian and help save lives.

Register HERE to be a CPAD Guardian

Funding

Whilst Llandudno Rotary are funding the start of this project with the purchase of PPE, I/D Badges, and other consumables, the supply of replacement pads for two of the locations.

Adopting the management responsibility for an additional 25% of the defibrillators comes with a cost for keeping the pads and batteries up to date we are seeking funding to ensure the continuation of the project for the next 5 years to include the development of CPR training and a public awareness program to engage all members of the community. if you would like to help and wish to sponsor a defibrillator please contact Llandudno Rotary HERE with your contact details and we will get back to you. .

Or your donation will help us to adopt more or move on to phase 2 and 3 sooner. To donate click on the button below.

We are not stopping there! - WHAT'S NEXT?

Phase 1 of our initiative focused on adopting 25% of the CPAD devices, which were unavailable in case of emergency in Llandudno. 

Llandudno Rotary is working to enhance CPAD Management, Community Readiness, and Lifesaving Capability Across all the council Wards of our communities.- Phase 2 and 3 are aimed at strengthening the community’s response to cardiac emergencies

Phase 2

In phase 2 Llandudno Rotary will be tackling the issue in two ways

1. We want to find all those AEDs that have not been registered on the British Heart Foundation database. In order for bystanders tackling cardiac access to the nearest defibrillator is vital, if a defibrillator is not registered people may be directed to devices further afield reducing the chances of survival.
    
2. In order to increase the preparedness and ability to cope in cases of emergency Llandudno Rotary are encouraging the public, schools, businesses and local organisations to participate in on-line and face to face CPR and AED training. This involves: 

• Training on emergency protocols (recognising cardiac arrest symptoms and the critical steps to take before emergency services arrive)
   
• CPR Training (organising hands-on workshops for residents, businesses, and community groups to ensure as many people as possible are confident in administering cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) 
   
• CPAD Usage (providing demonstrations and practice opportunities for using CPADs,(Community Public Access Defibrillator) thereby reducing hesitation in an emergency 
   
• Awareness Campaigns  (utilising local media, social networks, and public events to raise awareness of the locations of CPADs and the importance of prompt action during a cardiac arrest)

 If you wish to discuss either of these steps in Phase 2 then please feel free to call our Project Lead on 07562 999 115.

HAVE YOU REGISTERED YOUR AED?

If your not sure if your device has been registered then contact us here.  We would encourage all AED owners to check and register on TheCircuit.co then inform Rotary as soon as possible so that we can get a clearer picture of defibrillator coverage in Llandudno. This will help us when it comes to phase 3 of the programme - deploying Defibrillators in areas lacking coverage.

Register your defibrillator - it may safe a life

WANT TO SAVE A LIFE?

Every Second Counts. Learn CPR. Use a Defib. Save a Life. 

If your between 8 or 80 you can perform CPR and use an AED to save the life of someone having a cardiac arrest.