ISLANDERS can help maximise the survival prospects of someone who’s suffered a cardiac arrest by being ready to step in and treat a casualty.
As part of the annual Restart a Heart awareness day, staff from Jersey Ambulance Service are seeking to highlight the fact that simple steps can make a big difference when responding to a cardiac arrest.
During a demonstration event in St Helier, clinical tutor Katie Campbell said the idea was to make the most of the more comprehensive network of defibrillators across the Island.
She said: “It’s great to have many more defibrillators, but we need to let the public know how to use them and how beneficial this can be.
“People might be a bit scared at the prospect, but defibrillators are designed to be easy to use and we can show someone what they need to do in about a minute – we know from research that it’s much better to do something than nothing, and that early resuscitation and defibrillation can double the chances of survival for someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest [away from hospital].
“Restart a Heart Day is a brilliant initiative that spreads awareness and builds confidence to do the right thing in an emergency.”
Statistics published in the UK have shown that whereas only one in 25 victims of a cardiac arrest is likely to survive without receiving cardiopulmonary resuscitation, their chances increase to one in four where CPR takes place.
In addition to the drop-in event that took place in Broad Street, staff from the Ambulance Service will also be staging pop-up sessions in the lobby of the General Hospital and are working with Jersey Sport to set up a series of events with Island organisations to ensure that those involved in sport know what to do if they witness a cardiac arrest.
