Trish from Beds Fire and rescue talked to us at PC last night about a community defibrillator being available in the village. I know several of my colleagues were previously sceptical about the usefulness and practicality. But Trish overcame the doubters and the general purposes committee (sorry for the technicalities) voted, unanimously as far as I can make out, to request an installation.
The most persuasive factor was Trish pointing out that the defib can't actually do you any harm. It can detect a properly functioning heart if you have collapsed for some reason other than cardiac and your chum is approaching you with the 'paddles'. The apparatus will not then activate.
The secure, vandal-proof box (see picture above) gives spoken instructions when you access it after received a code from the 999 control room. It needs a host building and a small 'trickle' electric charge to make it viable. Depending on confirmation at our meeting on 15 May we will then look for potential locations.
This Beds-wide scheme is being driven by Fire Service chief officer Paul Fuller. He sought funding from Beds local authorities and beds borough contributed. Nothing from CBC but we are still benefitting so well done BFR.
A report to the service's meeting in December taking this scheme forward is pasted in below for more technical detail. Sounds a winner to me. See 4.2 in particular.
14.1
PURPOSE:
To inform Members of an initiative to install publicly accessible defibrillators (cPAD)
into the community.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the report be received.
1. Introduction
1.1 This paper provides a brief up-date explaining the current status of the project
to make automatic defibrillators available to the public in strategic locations,
where the risk of members of the community suffering from a Cardiac Arrest
has been identified as being the greatest.
2. Background
2.1 An initiative was identified to assist in the saving of lives by enabling a fast
community led response to cardiac arrest, using publically accessible
defibrillators. This followed the success of the use of these defibrillators in
other public spaces such as railway stations, airports and shopping malls.
14.2
2.2 This project will make a significant contribution towards saving lives, as the
chance of recovering from a potential cardiac arrest increases dramatically
with the use of defibrillation, as opposed to just using Cardio Pulmonary
Resuscitation (commonly referred to as CPR, or ‘chest compressions’).
2.3 Funding of £30k has been identified to purchase and install publicly
accessible defibrillators within the community. After consultation with all local
authorities, Bedford Borough Council (BBC) has contributed a further £50k for
defibrillators to be placed within their borough boundary.
2.4 The total funding is sufficient to purchase circa 40 cPAD (automatic
defibrillators) - 25 within the boundary of Bedford Borough and 15 at other
locations within the County.
2.5 The Fire Service and Bedford Borough Council have been working in
partnership with the East of England Ambulance Trust (EEAST) and The
Community Heartbeat Trust charity to identify appropriate locations and
equipment. The defibrillator to be purchased is especially designed to be
used by people with no medical background. Voice commands and screen
messages guide the user step-by-step through the process.
3. Identifying Locations
3.1 Data provided by EEAST identified those locations within the County which
have recorded the highest number of potential cardiac arrests. The Parish
Councils within these villages have been contacted and asked if they would
like a defibrillator positioned within their community.
3.2 The ideal sites for defibrillators is at or near locations where they are in an
area of high public footfall or where many people may gather; for example on
the outside walls of Village Halls, Fire Stations or other key buildings, and
where sports are played and/ or where a known community ‘land-mark’ exists.
3.3 To-date, four villages have accepted the offer of a defibrillator; Wootton,
Stewartby, Bromham, and Odell. Discussions are ongoing with Wilstead
Parish Council and Kempston Town Council to identify additional locations.
3.4 The defibrillators will be housed in ‘vandal proof’ boxes, which will be installed
in places which are easily accessible to members of the public. Alternatively,
as in the case of Odell, the Parish Council may agree to adopt obsolete, red
telephone boxes from BT, for the sum of £1. The defibrillator can then be
installed in place of the telephone, inside the box.
4. Next Stages
4.1 A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is being drafted, to be agreed
between all interested parties. This will specify the responsibilities of each
party and detail the period of time the Service and Bedford Borough Council
will support the maintenance and (minimal) running costs of the defibrillators
(this is likely to be for the duration of the warranty of the defibrillator
(7 years)). Thereafter, the defibrillator and cabinet will be ‘adopted’ by the
Parish Council who will then be responsible for any ongoing costs such as the
replacement of consumables; e.g. battery and chest pads, and maintenance /
replacement.
4.2 The Public Relations Officers for both BBC and the Fire Service will work in
partnership with the Parish Councils to publicise the location, availability and
ease of use of the defibrillator. Familiarisation and awareness in how to use
the defibrillator will be provided either by EEAST trainers or the Community
Heartbeat Trust.
4.3 If a person calls for an Ambulance for a cardiac arrest victim, subject to
certain criteria being met, a procedure is in place with the Ambulance Control
to inform the caller where the nearest defibrillator is located (if there is one
near their location) and the code to use to open the cabinet. They will then
collect the defibrillator and take it to the victim and follow the instructions for
its use whilst waiting for the Ambulance Service to attend.
PAUL M FULLER
CHIEF FIRE OFFICER
 |
| A defib box |
The most persuasive factor was Trish pointing out that the defib can't actually do you any harm. It can detect a properly functioning heart if you have collapsed for some reason other than cardiac and your chum is approaching you with the 'paddles'. The apparatus will not then activate.
The secure, vandal-proof box (see picture above) gives spoken instructions when you access it after received a code from the 999 control room. It needs a host building and a small 'trickle' electric charge to make it viable. Depending on confirmation at our meeting on 15 May we will then look for potential locations.
This Beds-wide scheme is being driven by Fire Service chief officer Paul Fuller. He sought funding from Beds local authorities and beds borough contributed. Nothing from CBC but we are still benefitting so well done BFR.
A report to the service's meeting in December taking this scheme forward is pasted in below for more technical detail. Sounds a winner to me. See 4.2 in particular.
14.1
PURPOSE:
To inform Members of an initiative to install publicly accessible defibrillators (cPAD)
into the community.
RECOMMENDATION:
That the report be received.
1. Introduction
1.1 This paper provides a brief up-date explaining the current status of the project
to make automatic defibrillators available to the public in strategic locations,
where the risk of members of the community suffering from a Cardiac Arrest
has been identified as being the greatest.
2. Background
2.1 An initiative was identified to assist in the saving of lives by enabling a fast
community led response to cardiac arrest, using publically accessible
defibrillators. This followed the success of the use of these defibrillators in
other public spaces such as railway stations, airports and shopping malls.
14.2
2.2 This project will make a significant contribution towards saving lives, as the
chance of recovering from a potential cardiac arrest increases dramatically
with the use of defibrillation, as opposed to just using Cardio Pulmonary
Resuscitation (commonly referred to as CPR, or ‘chest compressions’).
2.3 Funding of £30k has been identified to purchase and install publicly
accessible defibrillators within the community. After consultation with all local
authorities, Bedford Borough Council (BBC) has contributed a further £50k for
defibrillators to be placed within their borough boundary.
2.4 The total funding is sufficient to purchase circa 40 cPAD (automatic
defibrillators) - 25 within the boundary of Bedford Borough and 15 at other
locations within the County.
2.5 The Fire Service and Bedford Borough Council have been working in
partnership with the East of England Ambulance Trust (EEAST) and The
Community Heartbeat Trust charity to identify appropriate locations and
equipment. The defibrillator to be purchased is especially designed to be
used by people with no medical background. Voice commands and screen
messages guide the user step-by-step through the process.
3. Identifying Locations
3.1 Data provided by EEAST identified those locations within the County which
have recorded the highest number of potential cardiac arrests. The Parish
Councils within these villages have been contacted and asked if they would
like a defibrillator positioned within their community.
3.2 The ideal sites for defibrillators is at or near locations where they are in an
area of high public footfall or where many people may gather; for example on
the outside walls of Village Halls, Fire Stations or other key buildings, and
where sports are played and/ or where a known community ‘land-mark’ exists.
3.3 To-date, four villages have accepted the offer of a defibrillator; Wootton,
Stewartby, Bromham, and Odell. Discussions are ongoing with Wilstead
Parish Council and Kempston Town Council to identify additional locations.
3.4 The defibrillators will be housed in ‘vandal proof’ boxes, which will be installed
in places which are easily accessible to members of the public. Alternatively,
as in the case of Odell, the Parish Council may agree to adopt obsolete, red
telephone boxes from BT, for the sum of £1. The defibrillator can then be
installed in place of the telephone, inside the box.
4. Next Stages
4.1 A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is being drafted, to be agreed
between all interested parties. This will specify the responsibilities of each
party and detail the period of time the Service and Bedford Borough Council
will support the maintenance and (minimal) running costs of the defibrillators
(this is likely to be for the duration of the warranty of the defibrillator
(7 years)). Thereafter, the defibrillator and cabinet will be ‘adopted’ by the
Parish Council who will then be responsible for any ongoing costs such as the
replacement of consumables; e.g. battery and chest pads, and maintenance /
replacement.
4.2 The Public Relations Officers for both BBC and the Fire Service will work in
partnership with the Parish Councils to publicise the location, availability and
ease of use of the defibrillator. Familiarisation and awareness in how to use
the defibrillator will be provided either by EEAST trainers or the Community
Heartbeat Trust.
4.3 If a person calls for an Ambulance for a cardiac arrest victim, subject to
certain criteria being met, a procedure is in place with the Ambulance Control
to inform the caller where the nearest defibrillator is located (if there is one
near their location) and the code to use to open the cabinet. They will then
collect the defibrillator and take it to the victim and follow the instructions for
its use whilst waiting for the Ambulance Service to attend.
PAUL M FULLER
CHIEF FIRE OFFICER
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