Public Defibrillator Now Available in Sutton-cum-Lound

Sutton-cum-Lound Parish Council have been assisted by Five Villages First Responders and East Midlands Ambulance to secure a potentially life saving Community Public Access Defibrillators (CPADs) for the village.

The defibrillator is located on the outside wall next to the front entrance of the Sutton-cum-Lound Village Hall, 38 Town Street, Sutton-cum-Lound, DN22 8PT.

The life saving AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is located in secure yellow cabinet on the outside of the building. It is 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 AED is 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 to access it. 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.

An awareness session for local residents will be running shortly and will be advertised in the village and will be free for all to attend.