Learning how to save lives

On 30th March, members of Unlocking Warwick and the Town Hall staff attended a training session in the Court House on how to treat a person who has suffered a cardiac arrest to keep him or her alive until the paramedics or ambulance arrives.

The training was given by Warwickshire Hearts – with Paul, a Volunteer Coordinator/Responder with Warwick District CFRs, and Laura, a doctor from Warwick Hospital, showing how to give CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and how to use an AED defibrillation kit that delivers an electric shock to the heart.

The trainers emphasised that the first few minutes after a cardiac arrest are crucial. If no resuscitation is given for about 8 minutes, the chances of the patient surviving are small. Warwick Town Hall staff who work in the Visitor Information Centre, or stage events such as the regular social club called “In the Ballroom’ need to be confident that they can act immediately if someone collapses and stops breathing. 

Defibrillators are available in many locations around Warwick, for example outside Shire Hall in the Market Place, or at the back of Alderson House in the High Street. After you dial 999, the emergency services will say where the nearest AED kit is located, and will give you a code to take it out of its container. 

There’s more information about CPR and AED first aid on the Warwick First responders website: http://warwickfirstresponders.org  They have trained over 2,500 people in the county in the past 3 years, and are happy to offer free training sessions to individuals or organisations.