A Defibrillator for the village - the 'Defibricklator Appeal'
An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a potentially life-saving device, designed to be simple to use by a layperson by providing simple audio and visual instructions regarding its own use. In the event of a suspected "heart attack", an AED can automatically detect a life-threatening cardiac arrhythmia that will lead to cardiac arrest and, where appropriate, is able to treat this by defibrillation - the application of an electrical shock which stops the arrhythmia, allowing the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm. In these types of “shockable” cardiac arrhythmia, the heart is electrically active, but in a dysfunctional pattern that prevents it pumping and circulating blood; uncorrected, such an arrhythmia will rapidly lead to irreversible brain/tissue damage and ultimately death.
An AED is not designed to shock asystole (the absence of any cardiac electrical activity, or “flatlining”): an asystolic patient has a chance of survival only if, through a combination of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and cardiac stimulant drugs, one of the “shockable” rhythms can be established. This makes it imperative that CPR be commenced, and the emergency services contacted, as the first priority, prior to the arrival of a defibrillator.
Little Wolford Parish Meeting is seeking to acquire a public-access AED, to be installed in a suitable cabinet outside the Village Hall and managed by the Community Heartbeat Trust; the estimated cost will be around £2,170, which is beyond the spending power of the Parish Meeting.
An appeal has therefore been launched through the Community Heartbeat Trust: it is named the “Defibricklator Appeal”, after the initial fundraising “LEGO” event organised by Ralph Döring. The amount raised currently stands at £1,505, which also includes donations made through the Waitrose Community Matters scheme and a £500 grant from the Parish Meeting.
A final push is now sought from local residents to help reach the appeal target of £2,170.
Please consider donating online by following this link.