A new defibrillator is now available at Dart-Totnes Rowing Club, Totnes. The defibrillator is located on the exterior wall of the club and is registered on the ambulance service database. The machine is available 24/7.
A defibrillator is a device that gives a high-energy electric shock to the heart through the chest wall to someone who is in cardiac arrest.
A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time and following the four steps in the chain of survival can help to increase the patients chances of survival.
Call 999
Commence CPR
Early Defibrillation
Early Advanced Life Support
Defibrillators are easy to use and come with either verbal or visual step by step instructions. The machines are designed to be used by anyone with or without prior training. Anyone needing a defibrillator should call 999 in the first instance and the call handler will advise where the nearest one is and how to access it. If effective CPR and a defibrillator can be applied within the first 3-5 minutes of collapse the chances of survival for the victim can increase from 6%-74%. Without immediate treatment, 90%-95% of patients will die.
This project was supported by the Tesco Bags of Help Scheme.
Thank you to everyone involved for working with us on this campaign, it’s great to see another machine available in the community