HEART attack survival rates in a Caerphilly town have been given a boost – after two new defibrillators were installed.
Risca Workingmen’s Club have installed defibrillators – available 24/7 - at both their Top Club and Branch Club locations after successful fundraising by the community.
John Evans, secretary for the club, said: “We raised money through raffles at the Top Club and Kay Blake made cakes to sell to go towards the defibrillators.
“The Risca Branch of The Royal British Legion also raised money and then the funds we had collectively raised were matched by Risca Town Council to provide the second defibrillator.”
Iain Jones of the Risca Branch of The Royal British Legion helped to raise the money by doing a 15,000ft parachute jump in Salisbury.
The cabinets to house the defibrillators were fitted for free by Steven Gray of Smartfix Property Maintenance.
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June Thomas – whose son Jack, 15, died just under 10 years ago from cardiac arrest in Oakdale – provided the defibrillators on behalf of her charity Jack’s Appeal ABUHB and demonstrated to Mr Evans, Mr Jones and Cllr Joy Parsons, representing Risca Town Council, how the defibrillator works and the simplicity of what is needed to be done to operate it to potentially save someone’s life.
On behalf of Jack’s Appeal ABUHB, Mrs Thomas has provided 101 defibrillators in the community alongside her work to ensure all schools in Gwent are able to have defibrillators.
“I don’t know if Jack would have survived if there had been a defibrillator on hand, but he may have had a chance if there was,” said Mrs Thomas, who has dedicated almost a decade to improving the chances of survival from cardiac conditions with the provision of the defibrillators.
Mrs Thomas dedicates her time to raising awareness and funds to provide the defibrillators and travels to replace the pads in the kits if they have been used.
“They are being used", she said. "There’s one in Newport outside a pub which has been used quite a bit. The one outside Oakdale Rugby Club has been used five times.”
She also hosts free annual cardiac screenings with Cardiac Risk in the Young to provide the opportunity for young people to be diagnosed with any cardiac conditions they may have and be able to both be aware and get the necessary treatment they may need.
So far, they have screened 1,300 people and detected a number of conditions in young people.
What to do if someone is in cardiac arrest?
If someone is in cardiac arrest, you should first dial 999 for an ambulance. They will provide you with the nearest public access defibrillator to you and provide you with the code to unlock the cabinet.
You should immediately begin CPR while someone retrieves the defibrillator. The call handler will talk you through this while emergency services are on the way.
Once the defibrillator is with you, you just turn it on and follow the advice given by the defibrillator which will talk you through the process.
To find out where your nearest defibrillator is, visit https://111.wales.nhs.uk/localservices/default.aspx?s=DefibrillatorLocations
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