As seen in The Cornishman - defibrillators coming to Hayle 'There are six units currently on order including three for Hayle, which currently does not have a single PAD.'

We're on target for 100 defibs

Thursday, April 11, 2013

The Cornishman

THE Cornishman's Heart Start campaign is a quarter of the way towards reaching its goal of getting 100 lifesaving defibrillators into communities, schools and public places by the end of the year.

Working alongside Penzance's Ronnie Richards Memorial Charity (RRMC), The Cornishman launched a drive to secure funding for public access defibrillators (PADs) across Cornwall and see 500 members of the public trained to use them.

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The Ronnie Richards Memorial Charity presents defibrillators to, above, St Ives Junior School; top right, Co-operative in Wherrytown; and, right, West Cornwall Golf Club.

At the time of the launch of the campaign, on January 3, there were seven PADs in west Cornwall – all of which had been fundraised for by the RRMC.

Founder of the charity, Paul Williams said: "I am aware that we have reached a quarter – 25 – of the targeted 100 PAD sites for this year.

"Jersey has sited 144 PADs in 10 years (including 15 from one benefactor) so it clearly puts into perspective our achievement to date.

"When we first met and discussed the Cornwall PAD programme and the 100 target figure for 2013 I was optimistically hopeful it could be achieved – now I know it can."

Just over a year ago, there was not a single PAD in Cornwall and together the RRMC and The Cornishman have seen the first school, the first supermarket and the first sports club all take delivery of automated external defibrillators – equipment which can be used to save the life of a person that goes into sudden cardiac arrest.

Across the UK, 2,000 people die each week after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest – or one person every five minutes.

The chance of survival is just 5 per cent if the victim is given CPR alone.

If a defibrillator is used as well, that victim is ten times more likely to survive the attack.

St Ives MP Andrew George congratulated The Cornishman and the RRMC on reaching a milestone in the campaign.

He said: "That is fantastic news and seems to be on track with one quarter of the way through the year and one quarter of the way to fulfilling the target.

"In an area like ours, particularly these days since the downgrading of West Cornwall Hospital and how distant and how clogged up the emergency department at Treliske is, having facilities for quick responses out in the community is very important."

The figure of 25 includes 15 sites where the equipment is already on site and ready to use.

There are six units currently on order including three for Hayle, which currently does not have a single PAD.

Mr Williams added: "There are a number of models available on the market and, in consultation with medical professionals, the RRMC selected the Heartsine Samaritan 500P PAD with CPR adviser."

In four other areas, groups are actively fundraising to pay for the equipment and this newspaper along with the RRMC has received hundreds of enquiries from members of the public interested in getting involved. The cost of 100 'defibs' is estimated to be around £100,000 and The Cornishman is appealing for help from the community to reach this target.

To find out more visit www.rrmc.webs.com, call Johanna Carr at The Cornishman on 01736 335515 or e-mail jcarr@c-dm.co.uk to request an information pack.