Staff
to keep customers in good heart
Supermarket
workers have been trained to save the lives of customers who have heart
attacks.
A £1,350 defibrillator was installed at Asda superstore
in Hollingbury, Brighton,
Staff have been taught how to use the machine.It will also be available to anyone trained in first aid.
The installation is part of a scheme funded by The Sussex Heart Charity, organised by Sussex Ambulance Service. Defibrillators have already been installed at Churchill Square shopping centre and major train stations such as Brighton, Worthing and Hove.
There are also plans for a defibrillator to be installed at the Asda superstore at Brighton Marina. Douglas Coombes from the trust said “These machines are extremely important. If someone collapses in cardiac arrest there is a ten minute window during which they need to be defibrillated.
“With the best will in the world it could take eight minutes at least for the ambulance service to get there – and if you take into account the time taken to make the call and get to the person in the first place, that ten minute window is closed.
“By putting defibrillators out in the community we could save lots of lives.”
OUR
WORK
Buying New Equipment
The total spent on new equipment since 1987 exceeds £1.6 Million and this figure continues to rise. Much of the equipment is computer based and therefore needs upgrading on a regular basis. Unfortunately the NHS is often unable to fund this part of the service. This is an area where the Sussex Heart Charity will be of particular benefit to patients in the future.
Supporting Training
The Sussex Heart Charity funds the training of cardiac Technicians here in Brighton. This benefits both staff and patients by reducing waiting times, as well as ensuring a skilled staff base for the future.
Promoting Community and in Hospital Resuscitation Training
We
support extensively all aspects of cardiac resuscitation by purchasing
life saving defibrillators and by buying training mannequin’s which
allow the staff to keep their resuscitation skills up to date. Through
these and other purchases they are made constantly able to use the latest
techniques to give patients the best possible chance of survival.
Providing Information
Over
the years we have produced information videos for patients and their relatives,
such as:
Coronary
Angiography
Pacemakers
Heart Attack Action and Cardiac Rehabilitation videos, both for patients
about to undergo surgery and for non- surgical patients.
We also produce booklets and information leaflets that are used regularly
Encouraging Research
Cardiology
Research in Brighton has been recognised internationally for many years,
undertaking vital research and audit projects which will help improve
survival and quality of life for cardiac patients for many years to come.
We help them to do this by providing support for equipment and by funding
a Research Doctor to help lead these projects.
