The children of Amazon employees in Dunfermline are one step closer to becoming lifesavers after taking part in a special first aid and CPR training session at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline.
The mini medics course welcomed 23 Amazon employees and their children for a fun and interactive session that introduced them to essential first aid skills, learning how to check for danger and practising CPR techniques.
Mini Medics is a basic first aid course designed for children between the ages of seven and 16. The course introduces children to health knowledge, lifesaving skills and administering first aid.
Jamie Strain, General Manager at the Amazon fulfilment centre in Dunfermline, said: “First aid and CPR are important skills for young people to have and I’m pleased that our mini medics course has been so popular with our employees and their families.
“I’d like to say a big thank you to our colleague, Anna, for facilitating the training for our team.”
Anna Soltysiak, an associate at Amazon in Dunfermline who led the training, added: “The children who attended our mini medics events were enthusiastic and keen learners. I had a great time teaching them about first aid.
“It’s important for young people to have basic medical skills, as it may one day help save a life.”
Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities where it operates. Amazon co-founded The Big House Multibank in Fife with former UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown to support families in need.
The Multibank network has now donated more than 12 million surplus goods to over 800,000 families across Scotland, Wales, Greater Manchester, London, Tees Valley and Birmingham. This year, the Multibank will send 1 million orders to families across the UK.
Amazon has supported more than one million students across the UK with free STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and helps community organisations transport meals and other essentials to families in need through its pro bono logistics programme, Amazon Local Good.
Amazon partners with Comic Relief and is the official home of the charity’s iconic Red Nose. Together with its employees, customers, and partners, Amazon has raised over £4.8 million to fund projects that support people across the UK, and around the world.
Over 3,000 pupils from 30 schools across the Capital are attended Young Driver 2025 this week.
The annual event is aimed at senior year secondary school pupils and explores the risks and responsibilities of becoming a new driver, through presentations and workshops delivered by the Council, Police and partner organisations.
The issues discussed include vehicle, pedestrian and passenger safety, laws on the road, travelling by and interacting with public transport, first aid and much more.
Young Driver 2025 ran from September 29 = 2nd October.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “Young Driver 2025 is an incredibly important event to make sure the next generation of Edinburgh’s drivers have all the resources they need to form good habits as they get on the road.
I was delighted to attend, meeting with colleagues from the Council and partner organisations along with our young people. I was also struck by the strong breadth of useful and practical material being delivered across the four-day event.
“We remain committed to enhancing road safety across the Capital for all road users, with over £6m being invested in our Road Safety Delivery Plan this year alone.
“I’d like to thank everyone who has supported the event this year and made it such a great success.”
Inspector Kosmas Papakyriakou, Road Policing said: “Edinburgh Division is fully supportive of Young Driver 2025. It is excellent educational tool to assist young people to become careful, considerate, and safe drivers and road users.
“Keeping people safe on and around our roads is a priority for Police Scotland, our communities and our partners. By working together to make young people aware of the risks and impacts of dangerous road user behaviour, we can help reduce casualties in the future.”
Mairi Day, Partner at Digby Brown said:“In the last month in Scotland we have seen three teenagers die in a car crash, and in a separate incident a young man had been jailed for more than two years for driving while under the influence of alcohol.
“His actions resulted in one of his friends losing both his legs and two others being left with serious spinal injuries
“Every day at Digby Brown we see similar road traffic accidents but also how devastating they are.
“We help the people who are left with life changing injuries and supporting the families trying to come to terms with a sudden loss.
“But what makes these incidents more painful is many are avoidable.
“Driving is a life skill, and we need to talk to our young people about how to stay safe and give them the confidence to make good decisions while out on the road.
“This is why events like Edinburgh Young Drivers are so important.”
Since 2010 Digby Brown has been a main supporter of the Edinburgh Young Driver event bringing their expertise in personal injury law and supporting people affected by serious road traffic accidents.
This year sees the return of the mock court featuring a real case from the firm’s archives aiming to show young people the consequences of taking risks on the road.
Yousef (S6) from Currie Community High School said: “It was a fantastic experience with lots of fun activities and provided a valuable insight into the consequences of negligence on the road.
“With stations such as VR, simulators and mock court sessions, there was never a dull moment!”
Sam (S6)from Currie Community High School said:“The Young Driver’s event was a successful learning experience which I found incredibly insightful.
“We listened to a variety of useful talks and had the opportunity to visit stands from numerous professionals which helped me understand how to stay safe on the road.”
Organised by the Council, Young Driver 2025 was attended and supported by Edinburgh Corn Exchange, Brainkind, British Transport Police, Digby Brown, IAM, Lothian Buses, Police Scotland (Roads Policing, School Link Officers and Safety Camera Partnership), Scottish Ambulance Service, Scottish Fire & Rescue Service and Spinal Injuries Scotland.
Chief Inspector Kieran Dougal from the Preventions, Interventions and Partnership department said: “Police Scotland are pleased to be supporting the Young Driver Event again this year and to be working closely with our partners in a multi-agency approach to promote safe driving.
“This a great event aimed at providing road safety education.
“Road safety is a priority for Edinburgh Division and Police Scotland. This event helps young people with the awareness and skills needed to drive safely. Remember to drive safely and to the conditions – collisions have a wide impact.
As a priority, “Keeping people safe on and around our roads … we can help reduce casualties in the future.”
New data has revealed that those living in Edinburgh and the Lothians are the least likely in Scotland to help in a first-aid emergency.
The insights from a YouGov survey commission by St Andrew’s First Aid, Scotland’s only dedicated first aid charity, revealed that one in ten (11%) people admitted to being in a situation where they could have given first aid, but chose not to.
This is higher than any other region in Scotland and four percentage points above the national average of 7%. And while this national figure appears low, the reality when it comes to saving lives is starkly different.
With 3,200 people in Scotland experiencing an out-of-hospital-cardiac arrest (OHCA) every year, and a survival rate of less than 1 in 10, the 7% who chose not to step in equates to 224 lives potentially being lost.
Despite 88% of those living in Edinburgh and the Lothians recognising the importance of being first aid trained and half (49%) stating they would step in to help an emergency, 38% would hesitate first. A further third (29%) said their reaction wouldn’t change if the person was known to them – higher than anywhere else in Scotland.
The figures, taken from more than 1,000 respondents across the country highlighted that a fear of doing something wrong topped the list of concerns for the region (62%), with worries around making things worse following closely (61%). These anxieties echoed across the country, presenting as the main two concerns in every region.
In response, St Andrew’s First Aid, has launched a national campaign – ‘Taking the fear out of first aid’, in a bid to bring widespread visibility to the issue and encourage more people to recognise that their fears can easily be overcome.
Stuart Callison, Chief Executive at St Andrew’s First Aid said: “This research highlights not only the importance of being first aid trained, but also how critical it is for it to be put into practice when needed.
“While the research gives us some reassurance by highlighting those in Edinburgh and the Lothians are aware of the importance of first-aid training, it’s worrying to see how many are fearful of providing help in an emergency. The heartbreaking reality is that more lives could be saved through bystander intervention.
“That’s why we’re launching our campaign today to dispel some of the most common myths around first aid, to overcome these fears and help save more lives. As well as providing first aid training to as many Scots as possible, we want to be sure that those who have been trained keep their skills up to date and have the confidence to step up when needed.
“Doing something is always better than doing nothing and allowing our fears to stand in the way of taking action can be the difference between life and death for a casualty.”
Through the campaign, the charity is striving to tackle the challenges often faced in real-life situations, which for many is a fear of the unknown.
Yesterday’s launch saw popular content creator, Mark Thorburn, grab the attention of the public on Glasgow’s bustling Buchanan Street. Passers-by were invited to take part in a challenge, which saw them asked to reach their hand into a ‘mystery box’ – and their reactions monitored.
While some simply refused, those who accepted the challenge did so with trepidation, soon to be relieved upon learning the box was actually empty.
The stunt’s aim was to highlight that providing first aid isn’t as scary as people may think, nor should emotions and initial responses of anxiety or fear stand in the way of stepping in when it’s most needed.
For further information on First Aid and First Aid training, please visit:
A local man is thanking his lucky stars and staff at a popular city sports venue for saving his life, when he collapsed on the running track following a training session early in March.
Keith Ridley, 69, from Willowbrae, and a coach with Edinburgh Athletic Club had just finished his own training session on the outdoor running track at Meadowbank Sports Centre, before he was due to start training younger members of the club, when he collapsed.
Thanks to the quick action of some medical students, who were training on the track, and Martin Bews, Operations Supervisor at Meadowbank Sports Centre, who administered CPR until the ambulance arrived to take over, Mr Ridley has lived to tell the tale. Greg Cobb, a Welcome Host at Meadowbank, who had trained as a cardiac nurse in a previous life, also gave invaluable support to Martin at the time.
Keith was taken to the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, where he had two stents installed in blocked arteries and an ICD (implantable defibrillator) in his chest.
Keith Ridley said: “I count myself incredibly fortunate with the circumstances in which my heart attack happened and will be forever grateful for the quick actions of the medical students and the staff at Edinburgh Leisure’s Meadowbank Sports Centre, especially Martin and Greg, who most definitely saved my life.
“Medical friends of mine have told me just how critical those first few minutes are in terms of the right care administered that can make the difference in saving a life.”
Claire Rusack, Operations Director at Edinburgh Leisure said: “We are so glad that Keith is doing well and on the road to recovery. We are so proud of all the team and for the great outcome.
“Edinburgh Leisure places a huge importance on equipping our staff with the necessary skills to cope with lots of different situations. In this instance, their first aid training and accident and emergency procedures ensured an incident well managed. You hope you’ll never have to use your first aid skills, but it just highlights how critical these skills can be in saving someone’s life.”
Keith spent a week in hospital but recovered well and has now returned home. On the advice of his cardiology nurse, he is undertaking light exercise including walking and hopes to return to a structured exercise programme in the near future. He is hoping that he might be eligible to be referred to Edinburgh Leisure’s Fit For Health programme to help with his rehabilitation.
Fit For Health is a 16-week physical activity referral programmed delivered by Edinburgh Leisure in partnership with the Edinburgh Health & Social Care Partnership. Sessions are delivered across various Edinburgh Leisure venues.
Edinburgh Leisure offers First Aid courses, which are accredited by Ofqual and presented in association with the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK). These include First Aid at Work (Full 3 days); First Aid at Work (2 days refresher), Emergency First Aid at Work (1 day), Paediatric First Aid (2 days),
Emergency Paediatric First Aid (1 day).
Edinburgh Leisure also run first aid courses for clubs and colleges. These are in addition to their RLSS programme, and they welcome any requests.
A 2021 study conducted by The British Heart Foundation revealed that 38% of people in the UK have never undertaken CPR training. For every minute that a person in cardiac arrest doesn’t receive CPR and defibrillation, their chance of survival drops by 10%.
With this in mind, education experts at Skillstg.com have outlined the basic first aid a person should know in case of an emergency. The study details how to differentiate between a heart attack and cardiac arrest, perform CPR, use a defibrillator, and put someone in the recovery position. Acting quickly and confidently using this simple guide could save a stranger or a loved one’s life.
What is CPR?
CPR (Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation) is a procedure in which a person’s chest is pressed rhythmically to artificially maintain a liveable heart rate and blood circulation during cardiac arrest.
What is the difference between cardiac arrest and a heart attack?
It is important to note that cardiac arrest and a heart attack differ. A heart attack is a condition where the heart muscle suddenly becomes starved of oxygen and nutrients due to a blockage in one of the coronary arteries. A person having a heart attack may feel pain, pressure and burning in their chest and is usually conscious at the time. In this case, you should immediately call 999 and sit the person down to rest while you wait for an ambulance.
A cardiac arrest is when a person’s heart stops pumping blood around the body, usually due to a heart attack. The brain is starved of oxygen, and the person becomes unconscious. In this instance, you should call 999 immediately and perform CPR to keep the person alive whilst waiting for an ambulance. If the heart cannot pump itself, you must assist.
How to spot symptoms of cardiac arrest?
First of all, it is important to be able to identify when someone is in cardiac arrest. If any of the below symptoms are present, then you should immediately begin to perform CPR:
The person is unconscious or not responding
The skin is pale, cool, and clammy
They are notbreathing, or breathing appears to be abnormal, high-pitched or gasping
The body is limp and unresponsive
Lips and fingernails appear blue-ish
How to perform CPR on an adult
If you spot an unconscious person who appears not to be breathing properly, or at all, shake them at the shoulders and ask if they are okay. Call 999 and immediately start performing CPR. If someone else is nearby, shout for them to find a public access defibrillator (PAD). Put your phone on loudspeaker as soon as you have dialled 999, this will allow you to perform CPR whilst asking for help. Do not leave the patient to look for a defibrillator; the ambulance will bring one when they arrive.
Give chest compressions
Kneel next to the person
Place the heel of one hand in the centre of the chest. Place your other hand on the top of the first. Interlock your fingers.
Keeping your arms straight, use the heel of your hand to push down on the breastbone firmly and smoothly so that the chest pushes down 5-6cm, and release to allow the chest to rise back up.
Do this at a rate of 100-120 chest compressions per minute. The rhythm of ‘Staying Alive’ by the Bee Gees is the perfect beat to push to.
Keep performing CPR until help arrives
You must keep going until the ambulance and paramedics arrive to take over, or until the person begins to breath normally and demonstrates signs of life. If the patient opens their eyes, starts coughing, speaking, and breathing normally, you can stop.
If there is no sign of improvement to the person’s condition, and you are becoming tired, try and shout for someone nearby to help and take turns with the CPR. If there is a helper, you can swap every one-to-two minutes with minimal disruption to chest compressions.
Use a defibrillator
If a helper returns with a defibrillator, request that it be switched on while you continue to perform CPR. The helper must remove or cut away clothing so that the bare chest is accessible. Any perspiration should also be wiped away. A voice will begin giving instructions from the defibrillator.
To apply the pads, first remove the backing paper. In the spaces indicated, place the pads in the appropriate places. The first pad should be placed on top of the person’s collarbone to the right. The second pad should be placed on the top of the person’s armpit to the left.
The defibrillator will examine the heart’s rhythm. Stop CPR and make sure no one else is handling the patient. It will then provide a series of visual and verbal indicators that must be followed.
If a shock is required, tell any other people around you to stand back. The defibrillator will tell you when it is time to press the shock button. You may then be advised to carry on with CPR if no further shocks are required.
Recovery position – if they become responsive
Put the person in the recovery position if they begin to open their eyes, cough, talk and begin breathing normally. The recovery position ensures that the airways are kept clear and open; it also ensures fluids and vomit won’t cause them to choke.
Extend the nearest arm to you out at a right angle to the person’s body with the palm facing upwards.
Take the other arm and fold it so that the back of their hand rests on their cheek. Hold this hand while carefully rolling the person onto their side. The extended arm will ensure you don’t roll too far, and the bent arm will be supporting the head.
Bend their top leg so that their knee is at a right angle.
Open the airway by tilting their head gently back and lifting their chin. At this point, you can check that nothing is blocking their airway.
Stay with the person until help arrives
A representative from Skillstg.com commented on the study: “Currently, nine in ten people with cardiac arrest outside the hospital die.
“CPR is an essential skill that can improve these odds by saving lives. If CPR is performed in the first few minutes of someone going into cardiac arrest, the person’s chance of survival is doubled.”
Skills Training Group are the UK’s leading first aid training, electrical and heating courses for adults, contractors & companies alike.
The summer season will see thousands of people take park in walking festivals across Scotland
Common injuries at these kind of events include fractures, food poisoning while foraging, and falling ill from extreme weather
Earlier this year, six people lost their lives on mountains across Scotland in the space of two weeks, highlighting the danger of walking when unprepared
Summer is here, meaning that walking festival season in Scotland is officially upon us.
In the next few days, major festivals including the Moray Walking and Outdoor Festival, taking place from 17-27 June, and The Great Scottish Walk and Run Festival, on 26June, are happening. Whether you’re taking part in a short stroll, running 5K, or hiking in the mountains, it’s important to be aware of the potential hazards.
To ensure that you create happy memories, and that nothing gets in the way of you having an enjoyable time, National Accident Helpline provides some top tips on staying safe whilst venturing out into the great outdoors.
Slippery slopes
Walking or hiking is one of the best ways to experience Scotland. With this being said, it’s no surprise that slips and trips are commonplace amongst walkers, especially when combined with poor weather conditions.
Whilst out walking in the countryside, public toilets can be a particular area of danger. The combination of muddy walking boots and the smooth surface of a toilet floor is a clear slip and trip hazard, which can result in injuries such as ankle sprains and broken bones. Other hazards to watch out for whilst out hiking include uneven or rocky surfaces and wet, slippery grass.
To keep safe, avoid walking on rough ground, especially on hazardous terrain that contains loose and large stones. This is important to remember when walking on slopes or mountainsides. The best way to keep your footing and balance is by using trekking poles.
It may seem obvious, but also make sure you wear the right footwear. If you’re walking on roads, choose lighter boots, as heavy footwear can cause you to drag your feet, which can lead to a trip. If you’re carrying a backpack, then boots with ankle support are essential.
Food poisoning whilst foraging
Food poisoning – whether from uncooked food prepared by a street food vendor or by foraging for your own – is another factor that can risk your health whilst at a walking festival.
Although foraging is a fun way to get up close to nature and wildlife in Scotland, it can be extremely harmful, especially if you do not know what to look for.
To avoid harming your health, there’s a few simple rules to follow:
In line with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981, it’s illegal to collect wild plants or fungi on a National Nature Reserve (NNR) or a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Pick from clean areas, avoiding places subject to pollution. To avoid contamination, remember to wash your food and hands before and after you eat.
Know what you’re picking, as some species of mushroom and fungi are poisonous and can even be fatal. Before the festival, remember to learn about the various species and read the Scottish Wild Mushroom Code.
Although street food vendors at festivals are generally safe, if you do find yourself falling ill, immediately report it to the local council. Reporting the vendor will often lead to an investigation taking place and something being done to prevent it from happening again.
Under the Consumer Protection Act 1987, you could also claim compensation if you can prove that a caterer has caused you to become poisoned by food.
Beating extreme weather
As the weather can change in an instant, the Scottish outdoors should be taken seriously. Although Scotland has a mild climate, the combination of wind and wet weather means that hypothermia can be a significant hazard.
To avoid hypothermia, wear and carry appropriate shell and insulated clothing, including a spare hat and gloves. Additionally, make sure to carry snacks that you can graze on throughout the day and which will give you plenty of energy.
With heatwaves being predicted, heat exhaustion or heatstroke is another factor watch out for. To avoid falling ill, wear light-coloured, loose clothing, stay hydrated, and try to walk in the shade where possible. If you do find yourself falling ill, contact the festival first aiders as soon as possible.
Jonathan White, Legal and Compliance Director at National Accident Helpline, said: ‘’With the weather heating up and walking festivals set to get into full swing in Scotland, it’s vital that those attending are fully prepared to avoid any risk of personal injury.
‘’Whether you’re going to a nature foraging walk or having a peaceful stroll along the Moray coast, keep safe by ensuring you’re fully prepared for the great outdoors. Invest in suitable clothing and equipment (such as a compass), watch out for trip hazards, be cautious whilst foraging, and prepare for all weather conditions. Doing these simple things will mean you’ll have a safe, enjoyable, and memorable festival experience.’’
For more information about National Accident Helpline, or to find out how you can make a claim, please visit:
Leading organisations have come together to call for compulsory sudden cardiac arrest training for all involved in the delivery of sport, during SADS (Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome) Awareness Week (4-10 October).
The campaign is spearheaded by UK Coaching, Resuscitation Council UK and the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT) – a charity set up after the tragic loss of Joe Humphries, who died while out jogging with his friend nine years ago this week.
Every week in the UK twelve people under the age of 35 die of sudden cardiac arrest and, of those who experience sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospital, only one in ten survive. If effective action is taken within the first minute, it can treble chances of survival.
The organisations, alongside influential figures which include one of Britain’s greatest Paralympic athletes, Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson and former England rugby captain and Patron of JHMT, Martin Johnson, are urging everybody who actively delivers sport to undertake sudden cardiac arrest training.
UK Coaching offers a free eLearning course which provides the knowledge and confidence to respond quickly and appropriately in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. The toolkit, funded by Sport England, has been created by UK Coaching in collaboration with Resuscitation Council UK, St John Ambulance and the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust.
Martin Johnson said:“It is so important that everybody who leads or participates in sport knows what to do in cases of sudden cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrests kill 60,000 people outside of hospital in the UK every year and in lots of cases, this could be avoided.
“However, it’s no use people having the skills and knowledge to act if there isn’t a defibrillator nearby. Immediate access to an AED along with CPR gives that person the best possible chance of survival. AEDs need to be as commonplace as fire extinguishers.”
The organisations have also written an open letter to the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries, to urge her to mandate sudden cardiac arrest training, as well as ensuring every sporting venue has a defibrillator on site.
UK Coaching’s Chief Executive, Mark Gannon, added: “There have been numerous high-profile instances of sudden cardiac arrest this year and it’s left many questioning if they would know what to do, where the nearest defib is, and most importantly the need to give everyone, from coaches to players, facility staff, parents and spectators, the knowledge and confidence to act fast – because every second really does count.
“It shouldn’t be down to luck – every sporting venue must have an AED on site and sports should be making the course mandatory. I hope we can start a dialogue with Government because every person trained could be another life saved. All it takes is 30 minutes.
“Where we can start to make real strides is by working with National Governing Bodies and sporting organisations to implement the training internally, but our ultimate goal is to make this law.”
Twelve weeks, over 1,100 miles, a quarter of a million golf shots, more than 920 lost golf balls and an estimated 30,000 people trained in life-saving CPR skills.
This is what former Armed Forces trainer, David Sullivan aged 58 from Oxted in Surrey, has accomplished after setting off from John O’Groats in June on a mammoth mission to walk across the UK while hitting a golf ball and teaching people life-saving CPR skills along the way.
David arrived at his destination of Land’s End on 22nd August.
David set himself this extraordinary task, which involved walking between 14 and 30 miles every day and camping overnight, to raise awareness of the importance of knowing CPR, and to raise funds that would enable more towns and villages across the country to install life-saving defibrillators.
At every one of David’s stops on his mammoth journey, he trained people how to perform CPR.
David’s passion for teaching CPR came about in 2016 when, while playing golf, he was faced with a life-or-death situation. When a young man experienced a cardiac arrest in front of him, David luckily knew what to do.
He gave CPR for 17 minutes until the man could be treated with a defibrillator.
“It was thanks to my training, and a defibrillator being nearby, that I was able to help save the man, who luckily made a full recovery,” says David. “When something like that happens right in front of you, it makes you realise how precious life is and how important it is to know what to do in that kind of emergency.
“It was an experience which profoundly affected me, and now it’s my mission to create an army of life savers all over the country.”
David had hoped to raise £60k, which would mean that 60 locations in Britain could be kitted out with a defibrillator, but at just over £9k, he is hoping that completing his challenge will encourage more people to donate.
“I’m imploring individuals and businesses all over the country to support this endeavour. Until a cardiac arrest happens to you, or someone you know, it’s impossible to truly understand how critical defibrillators are. Being treated with a defibrillator can literally mean the difference between life and death.
“We saw this recently when Danish footballer Christian Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest on the pitch. It can happen to anyone at any age at any time. Being treated with a defibrillator increases someone’s chance of survival by up to 70%.”
American Golf kindly sponsored David on this adventure.
Gary Favell, CEO of American Golf said: “David has been on an incredible journey over the last two months and American Golf is proud to have been behind him, encouraging him every step of the way.
“It’s been fantastic to see the attention that David’s challenge has garnered up and down the country, raising awareness of the importance of knowing CPR, and the enthusiasm that he has shown in training people along his route.
“Huge congratulations to David on all he has achieved – we hope he now enjoys a well-earned rest having reached his final hole.”
The Scottish Men’s Sheds Association (SMSA) is working in partnership with St Andrew’s First Aid to offer FREE Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) to ten Scottish Men’s Sheds on a first-come, first-served basis.
Sudden cardiac arrest strikes 7 million people a year worldwide with no warning and no pattern. There’s little time to react and even less time to think, this means an AED must be close at hand, easy-to-use and ready to shock.
St Andrew’s First Aid is Scotland’s dedicated first aid charity and leading first aid training provider and the Association is delighted to be teaming up to provide this life-saving kit to Sheds to not only protect Shedders but also the wider community.
The HeartSine Samaritan PAD 500P Fully Automatic Defibrillator (RRP: £1,557.60 inc. VAT)
Ready to Shock: Small, portable and lightweight (2.4 lbs) and offers the highest level of protection against dust and water.
Easy-to-Follow Instructions: Easy-to-understand visual and voice prompts guide the rescuer through the entire resuscitation process, including CPR—a key link in the chain of survival.
Simple, two-button operation – an ON/OFF button and SHOCK.
After analyzing heart rhythm, the unit will automatically deliver a shock (if needed), eliminating the need for the rescuer to push a shock button.
Always Ready: A System Status Ready Indicator flashes to show that the complete system is operational and ready for use.
Self-check: The device automatically runs a self-check each week.
The AED’s are being offered FREE OF CHARGE to ten Scottish Men’s Sheds however, as they are not new, they will require new pads/electrode batteries (which will last for four years) at a cost to each individual Shed of £117.60.
St Andrews First Aid advise that these defibrillators are accessible to the public 24/7 outdoors and are placed in cabinets (available at a discounted cost of £540 inc.VAT for Sheds through St Andrew’s First Aid), however, if this is not possible, they are still happy to donate them to Scottish Sheds.
Interested Sheds will pay a delivery charge for the equipment.
REGISTER YOUR INTEREST
Please register your Men’s Shed’s interest by submitting your details online at the link below. Defibrillators will be issued to ten SMSA Shed members on a first-come, first-served basis.
With increased awareness over the weekend on how CPR and defibrillators can save lives, the Scottish Ambulance Service is working with Save a Life for Scotland (SALFS) to ensure more people know what to do when they witness someone suffering a cardiac arrest.
There are crucial elements required to save a life when someone is in cardiac arrest, and which we refer to as the ‘Chain of Survival’. The first of these steps is to ensure that people can identify when a cardiac arrest is happening, and there is a defibrillator in the community.
This is followed by early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation to restart the heart; timely hospital care, and appropriate aftercare.
Pauline Howie, Chief Executive of the Scottish Ambulance Service, says: “Working with the Save a Life for Scotland (SALFS) campaign and other partners, we want to increase the survivability rates of those who go into cardiac arrest in Scotland.
“Cardiac arrest can affect anyone, of any age at any time or place. It’s vital that we can encourage people to feel more comfortable in calling 999 and to deliver bystander CPR and defibrillation if witnessing an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.
“Over the last five years, the Save a Life for Scotland (SALFS) partnership has equipped over 640,000 people with CPR skills, and the survival rate after an out of hospital cardiac arrest has doubled to one in ten people.
“This is really significant progress, but there are even higher rates of survival achievable that we are working towards with the refreshed Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy. The Scottish Ambulance Service will also be working with schools so that we can equip all school children with the skills to be able to perform CPR.”
Dr Gareth Clegg, University of Edinburgh, Chair of the Delivery Group for Scotland’s Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategy says: “After a cardiac arrest every second counts. Calling 999 for help, starting chest compression CPR and using a defibrillator as soon as possible is the way to save lives.
“Scotland’s national plan to increase survival after cardiac arrest aims to double the number of cases where a defib is applied by the public – even before an ambulance arrives at the scene. Studies show that using a defibrillator within three minutes of collapse, along with starting CPR, can greatly increase chances of survival.”
Lisa MacInnes, Director of Save a life for Scotland, says: “Every year around 3,500 people in Scotland of all ages suffer a cardiac arrest at home or within the community.
“Save a Life for Scotland is a campaign which aims to increase the chance of survival by encouraging more people to learn about CPR and defibrillators. The simple message of the campaign is that everybody in Scotland has got the power to save lives in their own hands.”
Defibrillators are designed to be used by members of the public who have not received any training. They provide audible instructions and sometimes visual prompts on a screen, and because they will not allow a shock to be given unless it is needed, it is extremely unlikely that it will do any harm to the person who has collapsed.
Information on identifying cardiac arrests:
To help people identify when someone is suffering a cardiac arrest, it’s important to recognise the difference between a cardiac arrest and a heart attack. A cardiac arrest occurs when someone’s heart stops beating. Because there is no blood flow to the brain, they will suddenly lose consciousness and will stop breathing or stop breathing normally.
A heart attack is where there is a sudden interruption to the blood supply to part of the heart muscle. It is likely to cause chest pain and without treatment will result in permanent damage to the heart.
The heart is still sending blood around the body and the person remains conscious and is still breathing. Both are medical emergencies, and you should call 999, but a cardiac arrest is much more serious.
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