Defibrillator – News about Training – and an update.

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Welwyn’s Community Defibrillator

AED Barclays WelwynWelwyn Village now has an AED (Automatic External Defibrillator) located outside Barclays Bank in Church Street.  This is accessible 24/7 without prior training by anyone witnessing a person having a suspected heart attack.  It will significantly increase the chance of saving their life before Paramedics arrive.

If you are in this situation:

  • Call 999
  • Go to the AED cabinet outside Barclays
  • The Ambulance Operator will give you the code to open the cabinet door so you can retrieve the AED and at the same time they will despatch medical help
  • Take it to the patient and follow the easy video and audio instructions on the AED unit
  • You cannot harm someone in error; if they are not actually in cardiac arrest (heart attack) the AED will not shock them!

Many thanks to everyone who supported the fund-raising initiative.  In particular we thank the Welwyn Wailers for donating £1,000 from this year’s Wail, and the four village businesses that responded with donations, Mimram Veterinary Centre, Neel Dentistry, Putterills and SuSu.

Training

We have arranged for the Community Heartbeat Trust to run an awareness session at 8 – 9.30 pm on Wednesday 28th September in St Mary’s Church House.  This is for anyone who would like to know how to recognise someone having a heart attack, how the AED works, how it links with the ambulance service and how to look after the patient until medical help arrives.  This session is free of charge and you are very welcome to attend.

We almost have funds for a second AED and pending further fund-raising are investigating other locations within the civic parish of Welwyn.  If you are able to contribute to this important community asset please contact us for details.

Jane Carr                                                         Ian Skidmore

                            

01438 712510                                                 01438 716428