This month we’re proud to unveil the newest addition to Open Road West Norfolk’s commitment to safety, a defibrillator.
The defib in its new home, with Sonia Coles our First Aid Lead
The defib in its new home, with Sonia Coles our First Aid LeadFunded through grants, the defibrillator was supplied by London Hearts. A leading heart charity providing communities with access to defibrillators and CPR training. It aims to save lives in the UK by ensuring everyone has access to a defibrillator within 100 metres.
What Is a Defibrillator?
A defibrillator is a medical device that can deliver a high-energy shock to someone who is in cardiac arrest.
Cardiac arrest happens when your heart can’t beat properly but is different from a heart attack, you can learn more about what cardiac arrest looks like and how to spot the symptoms here.
Why Have We Installed a Defibrillator?
The purchase of a defibrillator is a safety precaution, in compliance with regulations, and ensures that we are prepared for every possible eventuality. Though of course our training is carried out with the utmost care, and safety procedures are in place, we are always looking to create failsafe mechanisms when it comes to the health and safety at Open Road.
We are aware that accidents happen, and that some of the more vulnerable young people that attend Open Road may face pre-existing medical conditions that may make a defibrillator more important. Having this equipment on the premises will instil confidence and empower our Open Road community, make young people feel that their needs are being met, and reduce response time in the event of an accident.
How Can a Defibrillator Help?
The defibrillator when it arrived
Statistics show that a defibrillator is most effective within the first minute of any incident occurring and can increase the survival rate to 90%. Having one ready on our premises is a reassuring presence for our young people day-to-day and could even save a life in an emergency: even administering a shock 3-5 minutes after collapse can increase the survival rate to 74%.
We will have signage to indicate the location of the defibrillator, as well as ensure the students and staff are confident in how to use the tool, even though we hope they will never need to use it.
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