Life-saving defibrillator for Air Ambulance Charity shop

28^th November 2018

Life-saving defibrillator for Air Ambulance Charity shop in Ware

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) has installed a potentially life-saving defibrillator at its shop in Ware High Street.

EHAAT is committed to installing Public Access Defibrillators (PADs) on the outside of, or close to, all of its premises. The devices are designed to be safely used by untrained members of the public.

The defibrillator was paid for by EHAAT Volunteer Kate Lloyd-Davies, who has been a Volunteer with the Charity for over eight years.

Kate said: “When I heard about this initiative I realised it was very important and I am pleased to be able to support it in a practical way.

Pam Withrington, Director of Fundraising and Marketing at EHAAT said: “We are very grateful to Kate for her generosity in funding this defibrillator. Thanks to her amazing gesture, this potentially life-saving piece of equipment is available to the people of Ware.”

A defibrillator is a computerised medical device used when a person experiences sudden cardiac arrest. The defibrillator delivers an electrical current through the chest which aims to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm, allowing it to pump again. The use of this, alongside cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), is crucial to the ‘chain of survival’.

The Charity hopes that the defibrillator will encourage bystanders to get involved if they encounter a case of cardiac arrest, and will provide the people of Ware with additional assistance before trained medical help arrives. EHAAT is committed to raising awareness and ensuring that PADs are accessible so that, should a sudden cardiac arrest occur, assistance can be given at the very earliest opportunity.

Stuart Elms, Clinical Director for EHAAT said: ““Our Pre-hospital Care Doctors and Critical Care Paramedics treat many out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year, and the NHS Ambulance services treat approximately 30,000 per year.

“Care and treatment has advanced every year, but those receiving bystander CPR and early defibrillation have a better chance of survival. PADs are a recognised, safe method of initiating care in this group of patients, for whom time is critical.”

“We want the public to know that there is a PAD available in their area. Once 999 has been called, ensuring that further help is on the way, members of the public should not be afraid to use the equipment and start CPR. The defibrillator provides clear and audible instructions and will not deliver a shock if the patient does not need it.”

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance’s Ware Charity Shop is located at: 3 Ware High Street, Ware,

Hertfordshire SG12 9BP. Telephone 01920 463365 Open: Monday to Saturday 9.30 am – 4.30 pm,

-ENDS-

Photograph: EHAAT Volunteer Kate Lloyd-Davies with Ricky McCabe of defibrillator supplier Wel Medical and EHAAT Staff and Volunteers.

For more information please contact the Communications Team on 0345 2417 690.

Notes to Editor:

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) is a Charity that provides a Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS) for the critically ill and injured of Essex, Hertfordshire and the surrounding areas.

The service is provided free of charge but, unlike NHS emergency services, the Charity receives no direct funding from the Government or National Lottery. It costs over £500,000 every month to keep the service operational and saving lives, and this would not be possible without the generosity and goodwill of people and businesses of Essex, Hertfordshire and beyond.

Each of the Charity’s HEMS teams consist of two Pilots, a Pre-hospital Care Doctor and a Critical Care Paramedic.

These teams, made up of highly-skilled individuals, tended to 1077 patients in 2016 and are the backbone of your local life-saving Charity.

The fleet, consisting of two Air Ambulances, and four Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs - cars) operates seven days a week from 7am to 9pm. After sunset, the Critical Care Team continues to provide the service using Rapid Response Vehicles.

In addition, a Rapid Response Vehicle is operational on a Friday and Saturday evening from 6pm until 2am with a Pre-hospital Care Doctor and Critical Care Paramedic.