Building Community Resilience to Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest
The Chain of Survival
The “Chain of Survival” describes the critical steps that give someone the best possible chance of surviving an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest:
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The first link in the chain is the immediate recognition of cardiac arrest and calling for help.
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The second is the prompt initiation of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation.
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The third is optimal post-resuscitation care.
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The fourth is a focus on survival and recovery to restore quality of life.
Chain of Survival image from www.resus.org.uk
The importance of bystander CPR and defibrillation
A Community Public Access Defibrillator (CPAD) can make the difference between life and death when someone suffers an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Every minute without effective CPR and defibrillation reduces a person's chance of survival significantly, which is why rapid access to a defibrillator is so important. These devices are designed to be simple and safe for anyone to use, providing clear voice instructions to guide people through the process while emergency services are on their way. By delivering a controlled electric shock to help restore a normal heart rhythm, a defibrillator gives a person the best possible chance of survival and recovery. Having publicly accessible defibrillators in communities, workplaces, and public spaces helps ensure that lifesaving treatment can begin immediately when every second counts.
Buying a Public Access Defibrillator for your Community
Purchasing a public access defibrillator is a powerful way to develop community resilience within your local area. By installing a publicly accessible defibrillator, communities can ensure that lifesaving equipment is available when every second matters.
There are many great organisations and charities that can provide you with a CPAD. Simply search for "community public access defibrillator packages south west" in your browser to find out more.
Buy a defibrillator package and support the vital work of the South Western Ambulance Charity!
Purchase a CPAD package from our friends at Heartbeat Trust UK, and they will donate £100 to support the work of our Charity!
Find out more about the Heartbeat Trust and their Community Public Access Defibrillator package here.
Locked or unlocked cabinets?
The South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust recommends the use of an unlocked cabinet when installing a CPAD. An unlocked defibrillator cabinet allows immediate access to lifesaving equipment during a cardiac emergency, where every second is critical. Removing the need to wait for a code or key can help reduce delays in starting treatment, giving a person the best possible chance of survival.
Read the Resuscitation Council UK's consensus statement on defibrillator cabinets here.
Registering your Community Public Access Defibrillator with The Circuit
Wherever you source you CPAD from, please make sure that it is registered on The Circuit. This is a vital step in helping to save lives.
The Circuit is the UK’s national defibrillator network, used by NHS ambulance services to locate the nearest available defibrillator during a cardiac arrest emergency. If a defibrillator is not registered, ambulance call handlers may not know it exists, meaning valuable time could be lost when every second counts. Registering also helps ensure your device is regularly maintained, with reminders for battery and pad replacements, giving the community confidence that it is ready to use in an emergency. Remember, early CPR and defibrillation can significantly increase a person’s chance of survival, making registration on The Circuit a simple but potentially lifesaving action
Let's Talk!
Please get in touch if you want to discuss how or where you might like your donations to be used. We will be happy to answer any questions or to hear more about your wishes and why you are supporting the South Western Ambulance Charity.
We would love to have the opportunity to tell you more about our work and the difference that it is making to our staff, our volunteers and communities across the South West.
If you are happy to do so, we like to share your stories and details of your fundraising activities with others too.
Please do get in touch with us via charity@swast.nhs.uk or call us on 0300 3690108.