Ashworth Valley Scout Campsite now equipped to save lives

NWAS Community Resuscitation Development Officer, Steve Nichols, and from Ashworth Valley Scout Campsite, Les Griffiths, Doug Sutton and Tony Davies

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) has been installed at Ashworth Valley Scout Campsite, Rochdale as part of the Chain of Survival initiative to improve the chance of survival of a cardiac arrest patient outside of hospital.

The campsite, run by the Scout Association, accommodates people of all ages and also a whole range of leisure and sporting activities. North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) has worked with the Scout Association to place the AED and assist in providing cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to staff, Scouts and all visitors.

John Salisbury, Ashworth Valley Assistant Camp Warden, said: “The number of people using the campsite is significant with many challenging activities on offer. The people who maintain and look after the grounds and buildings are mostly of retirement age, therefore we feel that having an AED readily available in an emergency is essential, as the campsite is not easily accessible for emergency vehicles. All the Camp Wardens have received training in the use of the AED even though it can be used safely by an untrained person.”

The move is part of an NWAS initiative to place defibrillators where there could be a higher risk of a cardiac arrest occurring. This includes sports facilities, shopping centres, transport links and other areas where there is a high volume of visitors. The Chain of Survival initiative focuses on four key immediate actions, which when delivered in sequence will give the patient a greater chance of survival. These are: early access – call 999, early CPR, early defibrillation and early advanced care. The access to a defibrillator and a trained user on site means that three of these lifesaving actions can be administered, possibly before the ambulance has even arrived.

Steve Nicholls, Community Resuscitation Development Officer, said: “I am really pleased to have worked with the Scout Association and Campsite. It is a great opportunity to work in the local Community and show a different side of the ambulance service. The initiative was initiated by two of the Instructors who are also Community First Responders (CFRs) in the local area.

“When someone goes into cardiac arrest it is vital to recognise the emergency, start CPR but also to get to an AED. The machines are so simple to use and you really cannot do any further harm to the patient. They only allow you to deliver a shock if a patient’s heart is in a specific rhythm. The AED delivers an electric pulse through the chest, in an attempt to restore normal heart rhythm. A patient’s chance of survival decreases 10% for every minute that passes without defibrillation. The best possible chance of survival is maintained if an AED is used within the first five minutes of the patient collapsing.”