Islanders are being urged to brush up on their life-saving skills as Alderney’s ambulance service offers free CPR and defibrillator training next week.
The Restart A Heart event has been rescheduled and will take place on Monday 9 November at the ambulance station at Crabby, with sessions at 10:00, 14:00, 16:00 and 18:00.
Restart A Heart is a national campaign led by the Resuscitation Council UK, aiming to increase the number of people surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.
Jim Cathcart, Team Leader for Alderney, said: “CPR can double the chances of survival and the survival rates go up again if a defibrillator is available.
“The call taker will instruct you how to do CPR, but recent research shows that 42% of people lack the confidence or skills to perform CPR, and only 14% of people feel confident to use an AED.
“These are skills for life and I would encourage everyone in our community to learn these skills, because one day it could help save a life.”
Last month, a cardiac arrest survivor from Alderney and the island’s vicar, who stepped in to give life-saving CPR, both encouraged islanders to take advantage of the free training.
Speaking last month, Mother Samantha Martel explained what happened when Fran Trathen collapsed.
“I’d learned CPR years ago, and I’d done a Restart a Heart refresher course only the week before. I grabbed my phone and dialled 999, and the call handler told me to start CPR. I just went into autopilot and kept going, telling Fran, don’t die on me.
“It felt like forever, but then I heard the sirens, and suddenly there were people all around us. The training was absolutely paramount. As a priest, I believe God was in all of this. It was the right place and the right time for me to be there for Fran.”
Ms Trathen, who previously volunteered with the Alderney ambulance service, said: “I’ve done CPR myself in the past, but everyone should learn CPR. It could be your son or daughter or your mum or dad or brother who collapses next to you. I don’t think anyone should be without those skills, even children.”
Matthew McAllister Wilding, who was on the ambulance crew that day, said: “This is what Restart A Heart week is all about. This case is a great example of why it is so important to know what to do and have the confidence to do it. When someone collapses and stops breathing normally, it is important to act quickly and call 999.”
Islanders can find out more about other first aid courses HERE.
