Ambulance UK - April 2020

NEWSLINE
person’s chance of survival
decreased by around 10 percent
for every minute that passes
without a resuscitation attempt.
Around 1 in 10 people survive
an out of hospital cardiac arrest
but where members of the public
stepped in and successfully
resuscitated a patient before the
ambulance arrived, three quarters
of people survived and were
discharged from hospital.
Those resuscitated by a member
of the public with defibrillator
from the community were twice
as likely to survive as those
resuscitated by the ambulance
service, showing that speed is of
the essence in these situations.
With members of the public
able to make a real difference
to the lives of people in their
communities, North West
Ambulance Service has
launched its new ‘CardiacSmart’
accreditation scheme to
celebrate and recognise those
who actively help to increase
survival rates from cardiac arrest.
Organisations, businesses,
schools and other publicly
accessible locations are invited to
apply for CardiacSmart status by
taking active steps to make their
community safer and healthier.
Successful applicants will
be awarded one of three
levels of accreditation status;
accredited, accredited+ and
accredited partner, all of which
are determined by specific
criteria. This includes having
a readily available defibrillator
that is checked and maintained
regularly and making a
commitment to providing lifesaving
training.
Accredited+ status is awarded
to those who have a defibrillator
accessible to the community on
a 24 hour basis by storing it on
the outside of a building in an
appropriate cabinet or space
within their building.
Accredited partners are groups
and communities that champion
the ethos of CardiacSmart with a
sustained effort in the long term.
They continuously promote basic
life-support skills, hold awareness
sessions to give people the
confidence to help a person in
cardiac arrest and arrange for the
placement of defibrillators.
All of those who achieve
accreditation will receive a
certificate, a memorandum of
understanding signed by both
parties and publicity materials
to help promote their life-saving
status.
Paramedic Community
Engagement Manager, David
McNally, said: “Every second
counts in a cardiac arrest so it’s
so important that people in the
community step-in and begin the
simple but life-saving treatment as
soon as possible.
“Doing CPR is the first step – it
pushes oxygen around the body
to prevent or limit damage to
vital organs such as the brain.
Defibrillators make the biggest
difference and are incredibly
easy to use as they speak to you
and tell you exactly what to do.
They will only deliver a shock
to someone who needs it – you
cannot get it wrong.
“The increasing numbers of
people in the North West of
England willing to help in these
situations is something we should
all be incredibly proud of. Through
our cardiac smart accreditation
scheme, we will recognise
those places that make their
communities safer and healthier
by promoting life-saving skills and
having rescue-ready defibrillators
available for nearby emergencies.
“Those who achieve accreditation
will belong to a growing network
of potential lifesavers and
will receive support from the
ambulance service to ensure they
are able and prepared to save
lives.”
Details of how to apply for the
accreditation scheme can be
found at www.nwas.nhs.uk/
cardiacsmart.
AA launches free
breakdown service
for all NHS workers
during Coronavirus
crisis
• The AA will keep NHS
workers on the move for free
during the COVID-19 crisis
• Patrols will help NHS staff
who break down on their way
to or from work
• A dedicated phone line has
been set up on 0800 0725064
The AA is launching a free
breakdown service for NHS
workers during the Coronavirus
(COVID-19) crisis.
From Thursday (2 April), NHS
staff who break down on their
way to or from work will be able to
call for help, whether or not they
are an AA member. A dedicated
hotline has been set up on 0800
0725064.
The service, which is available to
anyone with an NHS ID, includes
free recovery to and from work as
well as help if they break down at
home.
Simon Breakwell, AA chief
executive officer, said: “We all
recognise that everyone across
the NHS is doing an absolutely
vital job and we want to help
them.
“The last thing they need to worry
about right now is a breakdown,
so we’re pleased to be able to
help them with free recovery to
and from work for as long as the
current crisis continues.
“The idea came from numerous
suggestions from our people
indicating that the NHS are there
for us, so we want to be there for
them.
“This applies to everyone in the
NHS from cleaners, porters,
nurses to surgeons, as they are
all crucial. Like the entire nation,
everyone at the AA is incredibly
proud of the work and dedication
of the NHS. We salute them and
hope this assistance will help
them.”
Transport Secretary Grant
Shapps, said: “As we look to do
everything possible to combat
coronavirus, it’s crucial that we
put provisions in place so our
NHS workers can focus on giving
life-saving treatment in hospitals.
“Offering free breakdown service
support will keep health workers
moving and is a fantastic example
of how organisations are pulling
together during this crisis.”
Garrett Emmerson, London
Ambulance Service chief
executive said: “It is vital that
all our key NHS people get to
and from their essential work
every day. It is very reassuring to
know that the AA will be looking
out for us should we need their
breakdown assistance to help us
along the way.”
The offer will be available to the
approximate 1.5 million NHS
workers across the UK* while the
crisis continues and reviewed on
a regular basis.
NHS people are encouraged to
register on-line at www.theAA.
com/nhs ** to receive an SMS
message with the dedicated
phone number to speed up any
breakdown response, but they will
still be able to get help from the
AA if they have not registered.
AMBULANCE UK - APRIL
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