THE CORNISHMAN'S campaign to get more public access defibrillators in public places has received backing from the South Western Ambulance Service Trust (SWAST).
The Cornishman has been working with the Ronnie Richards Memorial Charity (RRMC), towards getting more of the lifesaving devices in schools, communities and sports clubs and more people trained to use them. RRMC founder Paul Williams has spend a lot of time meeting with and talking to SWAST's community responder manager, Rob Horton, to make sure the Heart Start public access defibrillator (PAD) programme falls in with trust standards.
Mr Horton said: "The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust is delighted to support the Ronnie Richards Memorial Charity based in Penzance.
"The dedicated work of the charity, without doubt, enhances the emergency service already in place and promotes early defibrillation, a key link in the chain of survival.
"This work expands on the PAD programme already in place across Cornwall with South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. The trust has 189 defibrillators located in community-based initiatives across the county, part of the 967 across the trust's regional service.
"These defibrillators are in high demand or in challenging locations such as campsites, tourist attractions and such places as Cornwall College venues."
Mr Williams described SWAST's involvement in the Heart Start campaign as crucial.
He said: "I am often asked how do the RRMC and SWAST interact. The RRMC fundraises and creates internal and external PAD sites that are logged on to SWAST's operational system.
"In the event of a 999 suspected cardiac arrest a SWAST call centre operator will inform the caller of a PAD if available while deploying a medical vehicle.
"The RRMC is committed to trained AED (automated external defibrillator) personnel at all sites who have the code to access 24/7 external locked cabinets.
"In the event they are not available,the caller in a 999 call will be given the access code by the ambulance call centre operator and will stay with them throughout."
Mr Horton added: "The evidence for survival from cardiac arrest clearly shows that defibrillation and effective CPR needs to be in place within 4 to 5 minutes of someone's collapse – initiatives like this are the only way to ensure this."
Mr Williams added that he wanted to thank Mr Horton for his guidance "without which we simply would not have the excellent PAD program that we have in place".
For more, contact Mr Williams by calling 01736 360864 or 07581 188043 or e-mail paulwilliams29@live.co.uk, or e-mail at jcarr@c-dm.co.uk
