Sheepwash Chronicle Spring 2017

This Could Save a Life In Our Village
An AED (automated external defibrillator) is a device that gives the heart an electric shock when
someone’s heart has stopped (cardiac arrest). You can use an AED on adults and children over one year
old.
Ambulances have them on board, but using an AED in the minutes before an ambulance arrives can double
someone’s chances of survival.
A defibrillator has been installed at the Village Hall in East Street. It is on the external wall just
near the front door – it’s in noticeable green casing with a green sign above. The unit is up and
running and has been registered with the Ambulance Service.
The idea is that when you have an emergency you first ring the Ambulance Service and they will give the
caller the access code. This is standard procedure.
However, all the Parish Councillors have the access code and sealed envelopes with the code will be put in
the pub and in the Village Hall. Also, if there is a particular person in the village who is at risk it may be
worth them also having the code.
How do I use a defibrillator/AED?
You can use an AED with no training. The machine analyses someone’s heart rhythm and then uses visual
or voice prompts to guide you through each step.
First, make sure someone has called for an ambulance, and, if the AED isn’t immediately available,
give CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) until someone can bring you the AED.
As soon as you’ve got the AED, switch it on. It will immediately start to give you a series of visual and
verbal prompts informing you of what you need to do. Follow these prompts until the ambulance
arrives or someone with more experience than you takes over.
Take the pads out of the sealed pack. Remove or cut through the patient’s upper body clothing and
wipe away any sweat from their chest.
Remove the backing paper and attach the pads to their chest.
Place the first pad on their upper right side, just below their collarbone, as shown on the pad.
Then place the second pad on their left side, just below the armpit. Make sure you position the pad
lengthways, with the long side in line with the length of the their body.
Once you’ve done this, the AED will start checking the heart rhythm. Make sure that no-one is touching
the person. Continue to follow the voice and/or visual prompts that the machine gives you
until help arrives.
You can watch demonstrations of using a defibrillator/AED at the following links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksJcSq9sSjU or https://youtu.be/s5ZPLXdXPBc
Denise Tubby
Power Cuts
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