An Ellington couple have worked with North East Ambulance Service to bring CPR training to their village to support their local community after their personal experience of dealing with a cardiac arrest.
Earlier this year, Chris Browitt suffered a cardiac arrest at his home in Ellington. His wife Alice was woken by a rasping sound and immediately dialled 999, where NEAS health advisor, Charlotte Saul was able to talk her through CPR until the arrival of the ambulance crews.
Since then, Chris and his wife Alice Walker have been working hard to make sure local neighbours, family and friends know what to do if they’re in the same situation. She made contact with the North East Ambulance Service Community Resuscitation and Development Team who organised a CPR and defibrillator awareness session at their local village hall.
Early recognition that someone is in cardiac arrest, early CPR and early defibrillation are first three key links in the chain of survival for anyone in cardiac arrest; CPR buys time by keeping a supply of oxygen going to the brain whilst using a defibrillator can try to get the heart back into its normal rhythm and ultimately increasing a person’s chances of survival. Early CPR can more than double a person’s chances of survival.
Alice Walker said: “It was clear after my experience with Chris that many of my neighbours and their friends in the village were not familiar with what to do in this situation. So, we thought this would be a great opportunity for us all. These training sessions are really important, they will save lives and improve the poor survival statistics for an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.”
Paddy Brolly, community development officer, who delivered the training, added: “We want more people to do as Chris and Alice have done by organising this session, and ensure that as many people as possible know the signs of a cardiac arrest, how to carry out effective CPR and know how to use a defibrillator. You don’t have to be trained to use one, but knowing what it does can make things quicker in those vital seconds.”
If you would like to know more about NEAS community CPR/defibrillator awareness sessions, or if you would be interested in becoming a volunteer Community First Responder in your area, please go to our website or email first.