Parish Council planning free CPR/defib training: Register your interest now

Would you know what to do if someone is unconscious and not moving or breathing? A cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body. It is caused by a problem with the electrical system of the heart. Every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces the chance of survival by 7-10%, and ambulances are sadly unlikely to reach the parish in that short window.

However, ordinary people can – and do – help save lives with CPR and defibrillation. A defibrillator (also known as a ‘defib’ or AED) is a very safe and easy to use electronic device, which is designed to be used by anyone without prior training. CPR keeps blood flowing to the brain and vital organs, and defibs automatically read the heart rhythm, and if needed, can ‘shock’ the heart back into a normal rhythm.

Whilst defibs are designed to be used without prior training, having some basic CPR and defib training is really valuable. It makes people feel much more prepared for how to respond to a possible cardiac arrest, so Ruyton XI Towns Parish Council is planning some free CPR and defibrillator training for the community.

This training will be free of charge to participants, and we are exploring dates around the middle of March. If you are interested in this lifesaving training, please email the Parish Council Clerk asap to register your interest.

Remember: If someone has collapsed and is not breathing, please call 999 immediately and follow the call handler’s instructions. They will explain how to access the nearest AED if it is needed.