Community Public Access Defibrillators – in Silsden

These are situated, on the Bowls Club in the Park, by the door to the St James Church Hall, at the Football club on Keighley Rd, and on the wall of the Gloucester Ave Community Hall on Windsor Ave.

To access the Defibrillator inside the box, first ring the Ambulance service on 999 and if they consider the Patient may need a defibrillator they will ask if there is somebody who is not engaged in performing C.P.R. who could go to get the nearest Defib if there is? They will tell you where to find the C.P.A.D. and the code to open the box. (None of this will delay them sending the emergency services required).

So what is a defibrillator, and what does it do?

It is an Automated External Defibrillator.

If it detects a shockable heart rhythm it can send an electrical shock to the heart; which will stop the chaotic electrical signals in the heart, which may then allow the heart to begin beating normally again. (A bit like rebooting a computer)

When a patient is in Cardiac Arrest, their heart is not pumping blood properly around the body, it may have stopped beating, or it may be in a ventricular fibrillation motion, which means instead of pulsing properly it is quivering like a jelly on a working washing machine.

Either way, there will not be any blood circulating around the body, so the organs including the heart and the brain, are being starved of the life-giving oxygen they need. (Damage to the brain will commence if the circulation is not restored within four minutes.)

So Coronary Pulmonary resuscitation (or C.P.R.) must be performed immediately, and a defibrillator used as soon as one becomes available, to ensure the best possible outcome.

C.P.R.  Will restore some circulation and, even if breaths are not given provide some oxygen to the patient.

When a defibrillator is attached to the patient’s chest it will analyse the output of the heart, and if there is a shockable rhythm, it will say shock advised, then it will advise further action required.

All the time this is taking place the call taker at the Ambulance service will stay on the phone giving you advice, until the ambulance staff arrive.

Everybody should know how to properly perform C.P.R.

It is not difficult, and there is no chance you can make matters worse for the patient!

C.P.R. Training – for FREE

The local Silsden Community First Responder Group will give training free of charge to anybody in Silsden interested in learning how to save a life (a donation will always be gratefully received).

For more information please contact the First Responder Group using the form below: