PILTON Community Health Project have updated their Food Access & Sharing Points document.
Trying to get by on whatever income we have can be incredibly challenging for many of us, particularly in the winter months.
Take a look on here to find our where you can get a meal, hot drink or groceries.
If you’d like a hard copy of this to take home, please pop in and ask. Also, please share with any neighbours or local friends to make sure everyone knows about these.
Gillian Martin MSP, Minister for Energy and the Environment formally opens new Scottish office for BlueFloat Energy & Renantis Partnership
Edinburgh office will be the hub from which the Partnership will develop its UK pipeline of floating offshore wind farms
A new office for the BlueFloat Energy | Renantis Partnership was opened in Edinburgh last week [Wednesday 29 November] by the Scottish Energy Minister, strengthening the Partnership’s position at the forefront of floating offshore wind development in Scotland, and creating a hub from which it will develop its UK offshore wind pipeline.
The Partnership brings together BlueFloat Energy and Renantis with the aim of contributing to a world leading floating offshore wind industry in the UK.
With 3.3 gigawatts (GW) of floating offshore wind in development in Scotland, the Partnership has two ScotWind sites – Broadshore north of Fraserburgh and Bellrock east of Aberdeen, as well as the majority stake in the consortium with Ørsted to develop the Stromar project east of Wick.
Two further innovation projects, Sinclair & Scaraben, which lie adjacent to Broadshore were secured in the recent INTOG leasing round and could pave the way for the Partnership’s ScotWind portfolio.
The partnership is also preparing for the upcoming Crown Estate seabed auction in the Celtic Sea, with the potential for a further 1.5 GW of floating wind through its Petroc and Llywellyn projects off the southwest coast of England and Wales.
Gillian Martin MSP, and Minister for Energy & the Environment officially opened the new office in the Capital’s west end, which will initially accommodate the Partnership’s 45 strong team, and symbolises the remarkable progress achieved since its formation two years ago.
Addressing key stakeholders and employees at the event, Gillian Martin MSP said, “Scotland is uniquely placed to play a leading role in the renewables revolution, and the support and collaboration of companies such as BlueFloat and Renantis will be key in supporting Scotland’s net zero ambitions, while helping to secure a fair and just energy transition.
“The opening of this office is an important milestone in the partnership between BlueFloat and Renantis. I look forward to following the partnership as it scales up and develops its exciting ScotWind projects – Broadshore and Bellrock – as well as the INTOG projects – Sinclair and Scaraben – which will both play an important role in realising our enormous offshore wind potential.”
Susie Lind, Managing Director of the BlueFloat Energy & Renantis Partnership, thanked the Energy Minister for honouring the occasion. She said, “This is a momentous day for our Partnership, and illustrates our commitment to advance our shared vision to deliver best-in-class floating offshore wind farms in the UK.
“Our new Edinburgh office will be the hub from which we develop our UK pipeline of floating offshore wind farms, and through our diverse team of specialists, we are integrating cutting-edge technology with a plan to cultivate a robust Scottish workforce and stimulate local supply chain growth.
“Today’s event underlines our dedication to playing a leading role in Scotland’s energy transition, with the goal of making a positive impact on our people and communities.”
Carlos Martin, CEO BlueFloat Energy said, “We are incredibly proud to be part of this joint venture, contributing our global expertise in floating offshore wind and pioneering new technology to accelerate Scotland’s offshore wind sector. We believe in the power of collaboration and look forward to creating a sustainable energy future together.
“Establishing our new office in Edinburgh marks a major and exciting milestone for our partnership, bringing us significantly closer to turning our vision of world-leading, large-scale floating offshore projects into reality.”
Carmelo Scalone, Chief Growth Officer, Renantis said, “Scotland’s potential for floating offshore wind aligns perfectly with our vision to build a better future for all and, through our Partnership, we aim to contribute with Renantis’ long-standing experience of working with communities across Scotland.
“This really is the energy transition in action and it’s great to see Scotland once again drawing on its rich heritage of innovation and engineering influence on the world.”
People across Scotland are being encouraged to be prepared for winter ailments and to use NHS 24’s digital tools to help them.
NHS 24 launched its annual winter health preparedness campaign last week with Michael Matheson MSP, Cabinet Secretary for NHS Recovery, Health and Social Care. The ‘Healthy Know How’ campaign helps people manage the usual winter illnesses with advice and helpful reminders ahead of the festive holidays.
The campaign reminds people who rely on repeat prescriptions to check they have enough to last over the holidays and to reorder in plenty of time. People are also reminded that GP opening times will be affected by the festive holidays and to make sure they have cold and flu remedies in, just in case.
As part of this year’s campaign NHS 24 is also highlighting the benefits of using NHS digital tools to find accurate and trusted clinical information online for free.
Health Secretary Mr Matheson said: “It is important to remember that services like General Practices and pharmacies will have limited opening times over Christmas and New Year. Planning can help ensure that coughs, colds and minor ailments don’t become a problem this winter.
“If winter illnesses do make an unwelcome visit, people can manage symptoms, find out if they need to speak to someone or locate their nearest services by using NHS 24’s range of digital resources from the NHS Inform website to the NHS 24 Online app. These digital tools don’t replace a healthcare professional, but they can help people make informed choices with self-care advice for minor illnesses.”
Mr Matheson launched the campaign ahead of chairing NHS 24’s Annual Review at Dovecot Studios, Edinburgh. The Annual Review was an opportunity for Mr Matheson and the wider Scottish Government to evaluate NHS 24’s performance and view plans, meet NHS 24 staff, and review the ongoing work to support all NHS services this winter.
This year, GP surgeries will be closed for four days at Christmas (December 23 – 26) and four days again at New Year (December 30 – January 2).
Dr Ron Cook, NHS 24’s Associate Medical Director said most winter coughs and colds can be safely and effectively managed at home: “Roughly a third of the calls to NHS 24’s 111 service result in self-care advice so people can save themselves time by being prepared and, if they do think they need to speak to someone or their symptoms are not improving, they can check our website or app first.
“It’s important that anyone who relies on regular medication checks they have enough to last the extended holidays – we get a huge number of calls from people who have run out of meds, and no one wants to have to try and find a pharmacy that’s open over the Festive holidays so be prepared to avoid that inconvenience!
“You should have things like painkillers and cold & flu medicine in the cupboard, just in case. A little preparation can really pay off to make sure that relatively minor health issues don’t cause more of a problem.”
NHS 24 has also recently revamped its corporate website (nhs24.scot) and updated the NHS 24 Online app to include more mental wellbeing symptom checkers and the inclusion of defibrillator locations.
Police Scotland’s commitment to disrupting the activities of organised crime groups is unwavering, as latest figures show that millions of pounds worth of illegal drugs were seized between July and September 2023.
The Quarter 2 2023-24 Performance Report details activity by officers across the country, which saw cocaine, heroin and cannabis as well as quantities of cash being recovered. A number of arrests were also made.
Detective Chief Superintendent Dave Ferry said: “Police Scotland is committed to disrupting the activities of organised criminals, who trade in misery by selling and supplying illegal drugs, and making Scotland a hostile environment for them to operate.
“Our role, working in partnership with other others including the members of the country’s Serious Organised Crime Taskforce, is vital in preventing these drugs reaching our streets and adding to the terrible toll of drugs deaths.
“Activity detailed in the latest Performance Report underlines our commitment to reducing the harm caused to individuals, families and communities.
“The seizures will impact the activities of those involved and help keep our communities safe.”
Dog behaviourists reveal why our pets can feel SAD, just the same as humans
Whilst it’s common knowledge that 2 million people in the UK suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD), did you know that dogs can be impacted by it too?
Vet charity PDSA found that 1 in 3 dog owners notice their pets appear down or depressed during the dreary, cold months, which equates to around four million dogs across the UK.
With this in mind, the outdoor dog gear experts at Ruffwear have collaborated with Rachel Rodgers, clinical animal behaviouralist at Nose to Trail, on how dogs can suffer from SAD, how to spot if your dog is experiencing SAD and how to overcome it with your four-legged friends:
Speaking to Ruffwear, clinical animal behaviourist Rachel Rodgers said: “When the clocks change, and the dark nights draw in, this can be the time where people notice their dog showing signs of ‘sadness’ or ‘doggy depression’ similar to SAD. Dogs typically thrive off routine, so when this changes, it can throw them off.
“Many breeds, particularly younger dogs with lots of energy, really do need ample amounts of exercise. Hence, if you’re out working all day and then not doing as much with them in the evening, what we may see is them being quite bored and miserable. It isn’t just the physical activity they are missing out on, but walks provide mental stimulation.
“Sniffing releases dopamine which has a calming effect on the brain, it also lowers heart rate and blood pressure so has other benefits for the dogs which they may be missing out on at this time of year.”
Six signs that your dog is suffering from SAD
In order to spot if your dog is suffering from SAD, Ruffwear have provided the top six signs to look out for this winter.
Changes in their sleeping patterns
Much like humans, dogs can experience a change in sleeping patterns which can be influenced by their owners. Excessive sleeping or difficulty sleeping can be indicative of emotional distress.
Decreased energy levels
If your dog seems unusually tired, lacks energy, or is less interested in activities they usually enjoy, it might be a sign of SAD.This can also manifest itself in your dog not wanting to go on walks or not being as physically active as usual.
Naughty and destructive behaviour
During the winter months, in comparison to low energy levels, some dogs may exhibit destructive behaviour. This can include the likes of chewing furniture or personal items.
These naughty and destructive behaviours tend to occur when they are feeling stressed or anxious, and also a result of boredom.
Withdrawal and less interaction
Dogs that are feeling down may withdraw from social interactions. They might not greet you at the door as enthusiastically as usual or may prefer to be alone.
Changes in appetite
A decrease or increase in appetite can be a sign of emotional distress. Some dogs may lose interest in food, while others may start eating more than usual.
Increased vocalisation
Some dogs may express their distress through increased whining, barking, or howling. On the other hand, some dogs may become unusually quiet.
Four expert tips to overcome SAD with your dog
If you’ve spotted these signs of SAD in your dog, Ruffwear have also provided their top tips on how to help overcome it and set a new routine.
It’s important to note that the first thing you should do is to check with your vet to ensure there is no underlying pain causing your dog to seem depressed, as this can sometimes cause behavioural changes in our pets.
Teach your dog a few new tricks
The saying goes you can’t teach an old dog new tricks, but when it’s dark and miserable outside, work through some new training.
Make feeding fun
If your dog isn’t getting excited about their feeding time, something is definitely up. Try to make meal times a little more exciting for them by using puzzle games or fun treat dispensers.
Increase your one-on-one time
Spend more one-on-one time with your dog. Rachel advises “As we get closer to the festive season some people will be out more vising friends and family, or at the office Christmas do and your dog may just be missing that social companionship with you.”
Prep for next year
Once you’ve figured out what works for both of you, you can keep this in mind for next year. You know your dog better than anyone, and if you notice something isn’t right with your dog, it’s always best to have a plan in place for when the miserable weather comes back around.
It was a full house at West Pilton Neighbourhood Centre on Saturday for Edinburgh International Book Festival’s Stories and Scran event.
Guests braved plunging temperatures to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea provided by Scran Academy and to hear a rich variety of stories and poems from EIBF’S Citizen programme participants.
Hosted by EIBF’s Ryan Van Winkle, the packed programme also included brilliant contributions from authors Kate Foster and Douglas Johnstone, and there was another welcome opportunity to see the touching documentary produced by North Edinburgh Arts’ Adult Drama Group.
Yes, it may have been freezing outside but there was a warm welcome and a cosy atmosphere in the local community centre. A real winter warmer!
Scottish EDGE invests £1.5 million into 38 early stage, high growth businesses
With many UK firms struggling to innovate against the current economic backdrop, 38 Scottish businesses with high-growth potential have received a much-needed injection of cash at the 22nd round of the Scottish EDGE Awards that took place last week.
Taking place for the first time in Glasgow since 2019 and hosted by the Royal Bank of Scotland, the awards were attended by Simon Hannah in his first official engagement as Chair of the organisation, and Mark Scott, CEO of pet wellness brand Bella & Duke.
This year also saw the introduction of the new Scottish Government backed £100,000 Pathways Award, to support an ambitious female entrepreneur and was presented to Good Nude Food, a multi-award winning, probiotic fermented sauerkraut company.
Two of the other big winners of the evening were Brose Oats, which triumphed in the Food and Drink Category, a new award sponsored by Food & Drink Scotland, and Conneckt Charging, an EV charging network which won in the Net Zero category, supported by Royal Bank of Scotland.
Both winners took home a prize worth £100,000, while GLORIAH, a company manufacturing sustainable intimate care products for women experiencing menopause, won a prize worth £80,000 in the Zero Waste Scotland supported Circular Economy category.
Sustainability was also a theme for Oir Soap, who won £65,000 alongside the STV Award of £75,000 of advertising airtime, and who create luxury soaps using natural ingredients.
Biotech start-up Prozymi Biolabs won the £65,000 IBioIC award to further their quest to revolutionise the gluten-free market, while Edinburgh Open Workshop, which offers affordable and flexible access to workshop machinery and tools, was awarded £75,000 in the Social Enterprise category, which is supported by The Postcode Innovation Trust.
The Young EDGE and Wildcard categories returned this round, with the former supporting companies whose Managing Directors are under 30 years old and the latter providing a grant to pre-trading businesses which need support to bring their products to market.
Winners of this year’s Young EDGE award ranged from Selki Store, which provides heat packs to people suffering from chronic pain, to confectionery companies Tabrifics and Chocolatia, who received the £15,000 Harper Macleod and Scottish Enterprise top Young EDGE awards respectively.
Wildcard winners included Claymore Surgical Ltd, who are developing a software platform to automate the diagnosis of childhood sleep apnoea, and Practest, who are aiming to revolutionise GPs’ communication with their patients.
Sir Tom Hunter of the Hunter Foundation said: “Bold, brave and brilliant – those are the characteristics of Scottish EDGE winners.
“All the evidence points to Scotland needing far more of these businesses. EDGE is a brilliant supporter of high growth business and I’m sure could do a lot more for Scotland’s economy with the right Government support.”
Judith Cruickshank,MD Commercial Mid Market at the Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “The Scottish EDGE awards continue to showcase the remarkable innovative talent present within Scotland’s entrepreneurial community.
“Helping businesses to scale and succeed is core to our principles which is why we’re so proud to continue our support for the Scottish EDGE awards.
“We’d like to congratulate all those businesses who were awarded funding at last night’s awards, and we can’t wait to see their progress in the coming months. As supporters of the Net Zero category, we’d like to extend special congratulations to Connekt Charging. Their work in creating an extensive and reliable charging network has the potential to be transformational.”
Jane Martin, managing director of innovation and investment at Scottish Enterprise said:“We’re pleased to continue our support for the Young EDGE category, which was once again a highly competitive field.
“Scottish EDGE has an important role to play within Scotland’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. By supporting innovative, high growth potential start-ups, together we can drive Scotland’s future economic prosperity and create purposeful, scaling companies of the future.”
Evelyn McDonald, CEO of Scottish EDGE, said: “As businesses across Scotland find themselves facing challenging circumstances, there’s never been a more urgent need to drive creativity and innovation.
“The winners of the 22nd round of Scottish EDGE are testament to the incredible potential within Scotland’s start-up landscape. The addition of further awards this round, both Pathways and Food and Drink, has allowed us to reward more businesses, and alongside our partner organisations we continue our commitment to help Scottish businesses not just survive, but to thrive”.
Supported by The Hunter Foundation, the Royal Bank of Scotland, the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise, Scottish EDGE has a key role to play in facilitating the nation’s economic growth.
List of this year’s Scottish EDGE winners (alphabetically)
· Ansearch (Edinburgh) – Ansearch connect to all of your business apps, to make their data searchable from one place (imagine Google, but the results are from your business) – Young EDGE, £10,000
· BOROBOSCOT (Edinburgh) – Introducing Maah, a robotic platform and its digital twin designed to aid older adults and caregivers improve both their lives and work, against the backdrop of the demographic crisis – £80,000
· Brose Oats (East Lothian) – Brose is a healthy and delicious alternative to dairy, and is made of the most environmentally sustainable substances of all plant-based drinks – oats – Food & Drink, £100,000
· CaskNet (Edinburgh) – CaskNet is a digital cask register, authenticating ownership of whisky casks owned by private individuals or brokers in Scotland, alleviating problems facing the industry – £65,000
· CEXAL LTD (Edinburgh) – CEXAL Ltd creates rapid, accurate and cost-effective test kits for the identification of harmful pathogens in water samples – Young EDGE, £10,000
· Chocolatia (Forfar)- Chocolate producer from a restaurant background making luxury chocolates with ethical, sustainable ingredients, showcasing Scottish seasonal produce and highlighting their importance – Young EDGE, £15,000
· Coolthstore Ltd (Edinburgh) – We provide FridgeMate, a non-battery energy-storage module onto which all future fridges will be built. FridgeMate harvests and stores renewable energy for later peak-time usage – Wildcard, £10,000
· Conneckt Charging (Ayr/Glasgow)- Connekt is a privately operated EV charging network and App which integrates into commercial EV charging solutions to provide its drivers with a seamless and reliable charging experience – Net Zero, £100,000
· Claymore Surgical (Glasgow) – We are developing a centralised software platform to automate the diagnosis of childhood sleep apnoea and prioritise treatment for the children who need urgent care – Wild Card, £15,000
· Edinburgh Open Workshop (Edinburgh) – A creative makerspace offering affordable, flexible, Pay-As-You-Go access to workshop machinery and tools – Social £75,000
· Eye to the Future – Eye to the Future develops software that enables clinicians to deliver improved and more consistent health outcomes through earlier diagnosis of critical eye conditions – £70,000
· Feverfew Garden Company (Orkney) – We’re the UK’s first functional gardenwear brand specifically designed for women. We create high quality products that help women feel confident in the garden – £10,000
· GLORIAH (Edinburgh) – GLORIAH create, manufacture, and sell sustainable luxury intimate care products for women experiencing menopausal symptoms alongside providing educational, sharable content focused on the menopause – Circular Economy, £80,000
· Good Nude Food (Shetland Isles) – Good Nude Food is a multi-award-winning, probiotic fermented sauerkraut company. Our vision is to be a brand leader in the growing gut-healthy, fermented food sector – Pathways, £100,000
· Gradatim (Edinburgh) – We create children’s picture books to aid the delivery of complex disability/illness information to children under 5 that are read in conjunction with their treatment – Wildcard, £10,000
· Happy Leaf Ltd (Glasgow) – Developing an all-in-one smart sensor and app that makes growing houseplants easy – Wildcard, £10,000
· Highland Domes Ltd (Dingwall) – We build competitively priced, visually pleasing geodesic greenhouses that are more resilient, better insulated and with more economic use of space than alternative structures – Young EDGE, £10,000
· Jacks-Alt-Stays (Millport) – Jack’s Alt-Stays – A one-of-a-kind cabin accommodation concept on a scenic Scottish island, powered by renewable energy – £90,000
· Klank (St Andrews)- Klank is a live-music booking service that connects musical performers, event hosts, and fans in an intuitive, streamlined, mobile application – Young EDGE, £10,000
· Local Caddie Ltd (Edinburgh) – Local Caddie is an innovative virtual platform connecting Golf Tourists and Scottish Caddies – Wildcard, £10,000
· Marked: Wayfinding System (Glasgow) – MARKED: Wayfinding System, is a micro-mobility management and navigation system that aims to redefine how people experience cycling and scooting in the city – Young EDGE, £10,000
· Oir Soap Ltd (South Queensferry) – At Oir we make luxury, plastic-free soaps using all natural and sustainable ingredients. The bars are deigned to replace shower gel – STV, £65,000 + £75,000 ad airtime
· Nami Surgical Ltd (Glasgow) – Nami has developed a miniaturised ultrasonic scalpel for robotic assisted surgery. Nami is an innovative B2B OEM for surgical robot manufacturers – £80,000
· Planner Bee VA Services Ltd (Aberdeen) – Planner Bee VA Services is a Virtual Assistant Service supporting sustainable and ethical businesses to make a buzz with their digital marketing – Young EDGE, £10,000
· Practest (Kirkwall) – We are on a mission to change how GPs communicate with their patients. Developing the Practest product (trading name), responsible for commercialisation and customer – Wildcard, £10,000
· Pro Dispense (Hamilton) – A protein machine that dispenses a smooth organic blend of protein and other key supplements such as creatine, on demand whenever the user requires – Young EDGE, £10,000
· Prozymi Biolabs (Edinburgh) – A biotech start-up that aims to revolutionise the gluten-free market using gluten-degrading enzymes for the production of gluten-free bread made of wheat – IBioIC, £65,000
· Quine Ltd (West Lothian) – Quine Magazine, the only digital-first publication for women in Scotland. Quine covers the latest in fashion, beauty, lifestyle and careers – Young EDGE, £10,000
· Research in Dreams t/a Hubble Bubble (Edinburgh) – Hubble Bubble is an online AI-based platform matching international students with the right course based on their passion at the top universities in the UK – £70,000
· Screen Hustler (Glasgow) – Screen Hustler is a talent marketplace and portfolio platform for the film and TV industry – Young EDGE, £10,000
· Selki Store (Stirling) – We aim to help people living with chronic pain by contributing to the understanding of their needs, and by creating functional heat-packs – Young EDGE, £10,000
· SIP IT (Scotland) (Aberdeen) – SIP IT takes pride in being Scotland’s only PUR SIP manufacturer of structural insulated panels – £85,000
· Tabrifabrics (Aberdeen) – Tabrifics® is a new small-batch Scottish confectionery company, which is passionate about bringing new life to our nation’s classic confection – Young EDGE, £15,000
· The Prebiotic Company (Edinburgh) – The Prebiotic Company’s principal business activity is the sale of our own innovative prebiotic water under the brand name ió fibrewater – £70,000
· Tourprism (Stirling) – Tourprism develops a web application that empowers tourism businesses with customized feedback insights, crucial for their business strategy and tactical decisions – Wildcard, £10,000
· Ujaama Spice (Edinburgh) – Scottish spice trading business, committed to decolonizing the traditional supply chain and shifting the stigma surrounding spice commodities – Young EDGE, £10,000
· Venturithm (Glasgow) – Venturithm is a web-based simulation platform that supports entrepreneurs by transforming market research into financial projections, enabling a new level of business model experimentation – Wildcard, £10,000
· 2B Jumps (Edinburgh) – 2B Jumps has created an innovative showjump design that increases horse welfare, rider safety and enhances course building efficiency and accessibility – Wildcard, £10,000
Edinburgh man highlights importance of lifesaving skills
An Edinburgh man whose life was saved following a life-threatening emergency earlier this year, is appealing for nominations to recognise Scotland’s first aid heroes who have helped to save multiple lives across the country.
Keith Ridley, 70, who coaches at Edinburgh Athletic Club, suffered a sudden cardiac arrest in April on the outdoor field at Meadowbank Sports Centre. Thankfully, medical students and staff from Meadowbank were close by to assist and provide immediate lifesaving first aid, with their quick thinking, action and first aid knowledge ultimately keeping Keith alive.
Six months after the incident, Keith is highlighting the importance of first aid skills and training and encouraging those who know of any First Aid heroes throughout the country to come forward and nominate them for an award. Supporting the launch of St. Andrew’s First Aid’s annual Scottish First Aid Awards for 2024, Keith is keen that those who have helped in situations like his are recognised for their bravery and swift actions.
As Scotland’s only dedicated first aid charity, St Andrew’s First Aid’s annual awards ceremony recognises outstanding groups and individuals who have performed life-saving acts across Scotland or who have gone above and beyond to implement first aid skills, training, and resources into their organisation.
Nominations for the awards, which include nine categories, are now open with the charity encouraging entries ahead of the event which will take place in Glasgow on 29 March 2024.
Keith, who lives an active lifestyle and had no previous health concerns, trains regularly at the club where he was an athlete from 1969, before turning to coaching in 1998. On the evening of the incident, Keith had just completed a session of six 200m sprints and was chatting to a colleague when he suddenly collapsed.
Thankfully, a group of medical students were close by who quickly realised what had happened and came to Keith’s assistance. They were quickly followed by staff from Meadowbank, including Operations Manager, Martin Bews.
Keith, who was out for a total of 11 minutes, was given lifesaving CPR from Martin as Meadowbank staff brought their onsite defibrillator to the scene. Keith received two shocks from the defibrillator, alongside chest compressions and mouth to mouth until the ambulance arrived eight minutes later.
Recalling the incident, Keith said: “There were no warning signs at all. I was tired from my training, but this was nothing unusual, I didn’t feel any chest pains or anything out of the ordinary.
“It all happened so quickly, and I am very fortunate to have been in the right place at the right time. Having the medical students and staff from Meadowbank there to immediately step in and deliver CPR, saved my life.
“My experience has really highlighted that doing nothing isn’t an option in these situations. If they hadn’t stepped in, I would have lost my life and I am so grateful to those involved with helping me that evening.
“I think it also highlights the importance of having defibrillators available to be accessed by the public, as this was vital to the team who were saving me.”
Following his sudden cardiac arrest, Keith spent a week in hospital and had two stents and an internal defibrillator fitted.
Keith added: “Words really can’t explain how grateful I am that they were there and knew how to respond. For me, it’s really highlighted the importance of first aid training – I know that those within the sporting community are regularly trained – but it did make me think what if this had happened when I was somewhere else and wasn’t around people who knew what they were doing.
“It’s scary to think like that and further emphasises the need for training across the country.”
Martin Bews, Operations Manager for Edinburgh Leisure, was one of the first on the scene following Keith’s cardiac arrest. Having originally started his career as a lifeguard, Martin is regularly trained on emergency first aid within his role. His first response upon hearing what had happened was to jump into action to support.
When Martin arrived at the scene, he began delivering CPR for a total of nine minutes, playing a vital role in saving Keith’s life. When the paramedics arrived on the scene, they asked Martin to continue what he was doing to allow them to bring out their necessary equipment, and later commended him for his lifesaving actions.
Martin recalls the event: “It’s amazing really to think you’ve played a part in saving someone’s life. You never ever think something like this will happen to you and it really puts it into perspective just how important it is that you not only know what to do but remember to actually do it and not panic.
“At the time, I just went into help mode. It took a good few days for what had actually happened to really sink in. When we received a follow up call to let us know Keith was doing well, that’s when the relief sank in, and I felt an immense feeling of pride that I had been able to play a part in saving someone’s life.
“I used to work in the same building as Keith’s son, so for me there was a personal connection too, which made the stark reality of how it could have ended even more hard-hitting. I’m just so glad that I, and the rest of the team involved, were able to step in immediately and provide the first aid that was needed to keep Keith alive.”
Since the incident, Keith has been focusing on his physical recovery, which has involved taking part in a designated rehabilitation programme. Fit for Health, through the NHS and Edinburgh Leisure weekly, giving him structure and guidance in getting more fit.
Martin and the rest of the team at Meadowbank are being nominated for a St Andrew’s First Aid award this year, to commend their quick thinking actions and applaud their efforts in saving Keith’s life.
With stories such as Keith’s an important reminder of how pivotal first aid training can be, St. Andrew’s First Aid is encouraging the general public, organisations and businesses to nominate any outstanding individuals and groups who have shown first aid excellence, for its 2024 awards.
Stuart Callison, Chief Executive of St. Andrew’s First Aid, said: “Each year we are overwhelmed with the number of courageous people across Scotland, who have stepped up and stepped in during emergency situations like Keith’s.
“We know all too well that had Keith not been in the presence of a team of first aid trained individuals, the outcome of his story could have been drastically different.
“We want to encourage those who have saved a life or know of someone who has displayed first aid excellence, to come forward and nominate for this year’s awards, to ensure these heroes get the true recognition they deserve.”
To nominate an individual, or organisation for an award, please visit:
