Tag: defibrillators

Ambulance Defib Replacement Project Completed

Critically ill patients across Scotland are set to benefit as a project to upgrade defibrillators used in Scottish ambulances is completed.

The new devices, which have been installed in 528 Scottish Ambulance Service Accident and Emergency response vehicles and supplied by The Ortus Group, are more reliable and enable transfer of patient data from some of the most remote parts of Scotland to a receiving hospital.

The project – which was completed under budget and by the target completion date – involved the training of 3,029 staff, where 500 training sessions were held across 75 training locations.

Consultant paramedic Dave Bywater said: “I want to thank everyone who has been involved in fitting our ambulances with these new defibrillators, putting Scotland at the cutting edge of this new technology. We are delighted patients are going to benefit from it.

“This has been a great team effort from everyone involved – the project was delivered under budget and by its completed target date. This was done through what were very challenging circumstances and involved a great team effort.

“In addition to defibrillation for out of hospital cardiac arrest patients, they also automatically record a patient’s vital signs, freeing the ambulance crew from recording this data manually and enabling them to give more focus to patients.”

The new Corpuls3devices will automatically pass clinical information and data into the Electronic Patient Record, which can then be picked up and monitored by hospital clinicians ahead of the patient arriving – paramedics and technicians will also be able to easily record which drugs they have administered.

Project Manager Roslyn Scott said: “This was a very logistically challenging migration project, ensuring the staff training programme and vehicle installation plan were well aligned and executed whilst minimising impact on our frontline services.

“There was excellent team working between the project team, wider Scottish Ambulance Service colleagues and our supplier, The Ortus Group, to complete the project under very difficult circumstances.”

The Ortus Group Managing Director Craig Hall said: “To be involved with The Scottish Ambulance Service on a project of this importance has been fantastic. The entire Emergency Services world watched its progress and I am delighted how my team here at The Ortus Group worked with the Project team at SAS.

“We had a few issues to deal with in regard to Covid and the logistics around it but everyone stepped up and delivered when it counted, finally I hope all within SAS enjoy using the Corpuls3 and that the choice in selecting this product is rewarded by a clinically enhanced outcome for the people of Scotland.”

Lifesaving defib installed in Drylaw Police Station

Police have agreed to host four new defibrillators at stations across the city to ensure enhanced provision of life saving treatment for those in need – and Drylaw is one of the communities to benefit. Continue reading Lifesaving defib installed in Drylaw Police Station

Ambulance Service appeal: Restart a Heart

The Scottish Ambulance Service has issued an appeal for more members of the public to learn vital CPR skills to mark Restart a Heart Day. The Service has also called for all Public Access Defibrillators (PADs) to be registered to maximise the chances of patients surviving a cardiac arrest.

Continue reading Ambulance Service appeal: Restart a Heart

Briggs praises defibrillator campaigns in Holyrood debate

MSPs have debated the need for more defibrillator machines in communities across Scotland. Yesterday’s debate was secured by a motion from SNP MSP Stuart McMillan commending Show Some Heart, the Jayden Orr campaign. Continue reading Briggs praises defibrillator campaigns in Holyrood debate

Edinburgh to benefit from life-saving equipment

heart2

Edinburgh is to benefit from a new project to install life-saving defibrillators in strategic sites across the city.

The Lord Provost launched the appeal in partnership with St John Scotland at a City Chambers reception last week to support the roll out of twenty Public Access Automated Emergency Defibrillators, or PAAEDs, across Edinburgh over the next twelve months.

The project will see the Edinburgh Committee of St John Scotland deploy the devices and create local partnerships with three key groups of participants: Donors, Hosts and Guardians.

The Lord Provost Donald Wilson, who has been made an Officer of St John, said: “By making it easy for businesses and people who want to help, this ground-breaking initiative will increase the provision of defibrillators in Edinburgh and install the machines in key sites like community centres, churches, tram and train stops.

“Not only will St John Scotland increase the number of these incredible devices in Edinburgh, but they will make sure the machines are maintained. Their volunteers will raise awareness of how simple they are to use so that eventually, nobody in Edinburgh should need to think twice before using one in an emergency.

“Having been involved in pushing the City Defibrillator Project off the ground I am delighted to see it deployed. Without a doubt it is thanks to the awareness raising of the Jamie Skinner Foundation that this project exists and that countless lives will be saved.”

Major General Mark J Strudwick, said: “As Prior of St John Scotland, I am delighted to see our Edinburgh Committee progress this extremely valuable, lifesaving project for the city to this stage. We look forward to garnering support from the local community in Edinburgh to turn this initiative into reality.”

Businesses, voluntary organisations, civic institutions and individuals will be able to provide funding for public access defibrillators by applying online at the newly launched St John and the City website.

St John Scotland will place the life saving devices at strategic sites – known as Hosts – across Edinburgh, taking into account the volume of people in the immediate vicinity.

Guardians will operate as a team of volunteers who will regularly monitor all the defibrillators ensuring they are in place and in working order.  A member from the Edinburgh Team of St John Scotland (known as a Coordinator) will be responsible for the Defibrillator Register, ensuring the register is up to date and all the PAAED locations are mapped out.  This information will be shared with the Scottish Ambulance Service.

The framework has been developed following a pilot project undertaken in early 2015 which saw St John Scotland successfully partner with Network Rail to provide necessary support for hosting four PAAEDs at Waverley Station. One year on, these defibrillators have been deployed four times, and used to tackle two heart attacks, demonstrating the benefits of having immediate access to lifesaving and easy to use equipment in public places.

The easy-to-use units can prove vital in the event of someone suffering a heart attack. It is hoped that the delivery of PAAEDs will be achieved through a combination of developing partnerships with organisations, businesses and other enterprises and through direct fundraising from the citizens of Edinburgh who wish to contribute to their well-being.

Public information and education forms a vital part of the project, as it is important that Edinburgh’s citizens are aware of how easy it is to use an automated defibrillator in the case of an emergency. This education will be achieved by communicating through a variety of channels, such as fundraising activities, media coverage and the dedicated project website: www.stjohnandthecity.org.uk

 

Life-saving defibrillator installed at Edinburgh’s bus station

defib1Edinburgh’s transport leaders were treated to a first aid master class yesterday as they unveiled a brand new defibrillator for the city’s bus station. The life-saving equipment, which is used on people who have had cardiac arrests, was installed this week.

Public access defibrillators (AEDs) allow trained individuals to treat casualties in areas where ambulance access is difficult or while awaiting paramedics, increasing the likelihood of survival.

Staff at Edinburgh Bus Station, which sees between five and seven million customers a year, will now be given training to use the potentially life-saving equipment.

Transport Convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said: “Safety is of utmost importance to us as a Council, so it makes absolute sense to install this life saving equipment in such a busy area of the city.

“The bus station welcomes a real variety of people through its doors each day and if the new AED were to save just one of these lives, it would be worth every penny.”

Alongside the unveiling, St Andrew’s First Aid offered councillors and members of the public first aid tips and advice, as well as demonstrating the use of the AED.

Jim Dorman, Operations Director from St Andrew’s First Aid said: “We are absolutely delighted that City of Edinburgh Council has arranged to have a defibrillator placed within the city’s bus station. It is the perfect place to site an AED bearing in mind the central location of the station and the amount of people passing through the station each day.

“Defibrillators are proven to save lives and having one readily available will enhance the chances of survival for someone should they have a cardiac arrest in or near the station.”

The Council recently agreed to install defibrillators in all of the city’s high schools, partly paid for with fundraising by parents and the local community.

Find out more about St Andrew’s First Aid and the courses on offer 

on their website.

Pictured: St Andrew’s First Aid trainer Annemarie Pattison demonstrates the new equipment to Councillors LesleyHinds and Adam McVey. 

Defibrillators: dental practices to receive life-saving machines

‘I firmly believe this scheme will save many more lives’ – Matheson 

Roll-out of defibrillators - lIst

Communities across Scotland will have access to potentially life-saving defibrillators as the machines are installed in independent NHS dental practices across the country.

The £600,000 programme will see defibrillators delivered by the end of the month. The locations of the defibrillators will be logged with the Scottish Ambulance Service control system, which will increase community access to defibrillators, reduce delays in treatment and increase the chances of survival for cardiac arrest victims.

More than 1500 Scots died after suffering a cardiac arrest outwith hospital last year. 

To mark yesterday’s roll-out launch, Minister for Public Health Michael Matheson visited the Montgomery Street Dental Practice in Edinburgh, one of the first to receive a defibrillator.

Mr Matheson, who is himself trained in the use of defibrillators, said: “Every second counts when someone suffers a cardiac arrest and having access to a defibrillator can mean the difference between life and death.

“By the end of this roll-out, there will be more defibrillators in public spaces. With these machines mapped to the Scottish Ambulance Service control system, people can be directed to them more quickly if there is an incident, cutting the delay in treatment and increasing the victim’s chance of survival.

“As these machines are becoming easier to use it is only right that the public have more access to its life-saving potential and I firmly believe that this scheme will save many more lives.”

Alex Coakley, Principal Dentist at the Montgomery Street Practice, added: “This is a fantastic initiative by the Scottish Government. Having defibrillators available in convenient locations such as dental practices will mean that they can be taken to the scene of any incident as quickly as possible, and hopefully save lives.”

Pat Kilpatrick, director of the British Dental Association Scotland, said: “BDA Scotland is delighted that the Scottish Government has recognised the important contribution that the dental team can make in saving lives, and for making this possible by providing defibrillators for every dental practice in Scotland.”