A public access defibrillator (PAD) is now available to the Ryde community 24hrs a day thanks to Ryde Inshore Rescue, who have also been awarded a CPR training kit by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
The volunteer lifeboat station has been lucky to receive the potentially lifesaving machine and have also received a ‘Call Push Rescue’ training kit following their successful application for a Nation of Lifesavers Community Package from the charity.
The Community Package contains the innovative kit which includes everything needed to learn CPR in half an hour. Ryde Inshore Rescue plan to run training sessions in the local community meaning everyone can become potential lifesavers.
The defibrillator is a portable device that can be used by a member of the public to help restart the heart when someone has a cardiac arrest. This is when the heart stops pumping blood around the body and they lose conscious almost at once. For every minute that passes without defibrillation and CPR, chances of survival decrease by around 10%, so it’s really important the people know both of these vital steps to help someone in an emergency.
The defib is now in place outside Ryde Inshore Rescue at Appley Beach.
Ady Farrell, Chairman of Ryde Inshore Rescue said:
“We are delighted to have received this lifesaving package. The defibrillator has been placed outside our lifeboat station and will be available 24hours a day meaning that local people have the best chance of survival should they suffer a cardiac arrest. We’re keen to get as many people as possible trained in CPR too.
“We’re now working to raise money for further defibs to be placed around our community.”
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Judy O’Sullivan, Assistant Programme Director at the BHF, said:
“More than 30,000 people suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospital every year but less than one in ten survive. More people could be saved if more defibrillators were available in public places and if more people felt confident using them and performing CPR.
“We are delighted that Ryde Inshore Rescue have joined the BHF’s Nation of Lifesavers campaign – by making another defibrillator available in Ryde and teaching CPR locally. It could really be the difference between life and death”.
To date the BHF have helped place over 13,000 life-saving defibrillators in communities around the UK. The BHF asks for a contribution of £400 towards each defibrillator as part of the Community Package. To find out more about defibrillators and how to place one in your organisation or community visit www.bhf.org.uk.
For information on future CPR training sessions contact Ryde Inshore Rescue on 01983 564564, or via their Facebook or Twitter pages.
