More Defibrillators in North Notts Villages

Thanks to the hard work of the Parish Councils and residents, the villages of Sturton le Steeple and North & South Wheatley now have Community Public Access Defibrillators (CPADs) in place. Colin Gibson, the chair of Five Villages First Responders, has assisted the Parish Councils with advice and information to help them with their project to install the defibrillators.

The CPADs are located at Sturton Hall and Conference Centre, Brickings Way, Sturton Le Steeple and North & South Wheatley Village Hall, Sturton Road, South Wheatley .

The life saving defibrillators, or AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators) are located in secure yellow cabinets on the outside of the buildings. They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, should they be required in the case of someone nearby suffering from a sudden cardiac arrest.

When a sudden cardiac arrests happens, the patient suddenly collapses and stops breathing. Rapid help in the form of calling immediately for an ambulance via 999, starting CPR (chest compressions and rescue breaths) and the use of an AED can vastly improve the chances of survial for the patient.

The new AEDs are logged by East Midlands Ambulance Service on their Computer Dispatch system, and if a 999 call happens nearby and one of the defibrillators is required, the 999 ambulance operator will give instructions to the caller - telling them that there is an AED nearby and the code to open the cabinet. If someone is then able to fetch the AED to the patients side, while another person performs CPR this will help improve the chance of survival. Once the AED is by the patients side the lid is opened and the user simply follows the audio and visual instructions to place the pads on the patients chest. The machine will check to see if the patients heart is in a rhythm that requires a shock, and if it is the AED will deliver one. The AEDs are simple and safe to use. While of this is happening the ambulance service will still be sending emergency resources straight to the scene following the 999 call. But if CPR can be carried out and an AED can be used within the first 2 or 3 minutes after a cardiac arrests occurs the chances of the patient being successfully resuscitated are much greater.

Awareness sessions are being held in the villages to show members of the community how the system works and to give them chance to practice CPR and using an AED.