Community Public Access Defibrillators

As a charity SADS UK are able to organise the Community Public Access Defibrillator at a very competitive price, contact our Defibrillator Manager, Andrea Patient by email [email protected] to help you place your CPAD.

SADS UK Big Shock Campaign

SADS UK were compelled to set up the SADS UK Big Shock Campaign after the Department of Health donated defibrillators to airports, shopping malls and other establishments, but none were donated to universities or schools, where there is a large number of people on the premises at any one time. The Big Shock Campaign urged Government to bring in legislation to make defibrillators compulsory in all schools. SADS UK believes that as its compulsory for all children to attend school there should be a defibrillator on the premises to assist if they suffer a sudden cardiac arrest. This can be caused by an underlying condition, traumatic accident or if a ball strikes them in the chest causing commotio cordis, where a defibrillator will be needed to restart their heart. Apart from staff that work at the school, it is the hub of the community visited by many people including parents and grandparents too.

SADS UK works with charity members, Schools and PTAs to install defibrillators in schools, to enquire about placing a defibrillator in your school contact: [email protected]

The SADS UK Big Shock Campaign FAQs

Defibrillators

The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) has developed over the years. Years ago only medics could use a defibrillator in a cardiac arrest emergency, now anyone can use this lifesaving equipment. SADS UK are able to provide any make and model of defibrillator.

Administering CPR and the defibrillator is the most powerful combination in saving life and the earlier it is applied the better the chance is of a person surviving cardiac arrest.

For every minute that passes without defibrillation the chances of survival diminish by 10%

The AED (Automated External Defibrillator) is easy to use as its speaks to you. It tells you what you can do to save the life of a person in cardiac arrest, whilst waiting for the ambulance to arrive. When you turn the defibrillator on you are prompted immediately to call the emergency services. The defibrillator will then tell you to remove clothing from the patient’s chest and stick two pads (electrodes) to the person; a diagram shows where they are placed. The defibrillator will analyse the rhythm across the heart and a defibrillator shock will be advised if its needed to restart the heart. The defibrillator will tell you exactly what to do, its like having a friend and tutor at your side helping you through the process. The call handler will stay on the phone line to help you too. The defibrillator wont deliver a shock unless it is needed, this is a failsafe feature that cannot be overridden, so it is completely safe for anyone to use.

Helen Mirren AED Leaflet

CABINETS AND COMMUNITY PUBLIC ACCESS DEFIBRILLATORS

Ambulance services endorse defibrillators being in public places. They respond as quickly as they can and they know when they arrive at the scene of a cardiac arrest that there is a much better chance of the patient surviving if they have received early chest compressions and defibrillation. They are able to take over and carry out more advanced treatment if it’s needed.

SADS UK can organize a defibrillator and cabinet together, or independently. The charity has a variety of cabinets available to suit all installations.

CPR and Lifesaving Training

Although no formal training is needed to use the Automated External Defibrillator, SADS UK organizes CPR and defibrillator training with every defibrillator they install at a school or in the community. The charity is keen that should a cardiac arrest emergency be witnessed, people will feel confident to use their CPR skills and administer the defibrillator.

SADS UK backed the British Heart Foundation and Resuscitation Council (UK) call for lifesaving to be included in the core curriculum in schools and was delighted to see a recent statement from Secretary of State for Health Damien Hind intending to bring this to fruition in January 2020.

Heartwize

A new generation of lifesavers is emerging thanks to a unique and original resuscitation training programme spearheaded by the University of Leicester and University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust. It involves every secondary school in Leicestershire and has been extended into Rutland, as well as engaging widely with community groups. In February 2016, the campaign to equip schoolchildren with essential lifesaving skills – Heartwize – was launched nationally.

Heartwize Essex

Looking at the Heartwize model it was decided to set up HeartWize Essex a charitable programme that aims to deliver high quality life support training to Essex school staff and Year 10 students in order to increase survival following cardiac arrest. This project aims to include all secondary schools throughout the county of Essex, and will be delivered entirely free of charge.

The ambition of HeartWize Essex is huge: to ensure every school leaver across the county of Essex knows how to recognise and respond to a cardiac arrest – including delivering CPR and automated defibrillator use – in order to increase rates of bystander CPR and, ultimately, improve survival rates. The Heartwize model has proved extremely successful and is endorsed by the Resuscitation Council as a beacon of excellence. The Essex based national cardiac charity SADS UK is sponsoring Heartwize Essex as it meets the charity’s aims to help save lives.

Signage to Defibrillators

Studies show that the public are often not aware of where the nearest defibrillator is should a cardiac arrest occur. Although provided with directions when making a 999 call, the person may not have local knowledge. Precious time could be wasted in locating the defibrillator.

Cardiac charity SADS UK believes community defibrillators should have signposts to direct people to quickly access this lifesaving equipment. Roadside signage posts could be used, also digital information boards at bus shelters and rail stations and have written to the Transport Minister urging for them to put these important signs in place.

SADS UK Annual National Lifesaver Awards

SADS UK has been holding the Annual National Lifesaver Awards since 2009. Over this time the charity has honoured people from all walks of life who’ve saved lives using CPR and the defibrillator. At the very first Lifesaver Awards we had the honour and pleasure of the company of Professor Douglas Chamberlain CBE who kindly presented the Lifesaver Awards. We were also fortunate that he joined us again in 2011. Professor Chamberlain, Cardiologist, founded the first paramedic unit in Europe, revolutionising pre-hospital clinical care and was a founder member of the Resuscitation Council (UK), the European Resuscitation Council, and the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (first co-chairman). He has been principal author or co-author of over 250 papers on topics in cardiology and resuscitation medicine.

The Resuscitation Council (UK) have supported the SADS UK Annual National Lifesaver Awards over the years, along with the College of Paramedics, St Johns Ambulance, Cardiologists, Chief Executives of Ambulance Trusts, Community Partnership Managers, Paramedics and other organisations and individuals prominent in the field of saving lives. SADS UK are delighted that Sudden Cardiac Arrest Survivors also join us.

Celebrities Dame Helen Mirren, Dr Christian Jessen and SADS UK Patron, Dr Hilary Jones supports the SADS UK Annual National Lifesaver Awards; with Dr Hilary presenting the Lifesavers with their Awards on these special occasions.