We are delighted to inform you that we have this week installed an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) at Ross Tennis Centre. It is located in a locked cabinet on the pavilion wall nearest to the weather station, ensuring that it is as accessible as possible to those who might need to use it.
Fast access to an AED can be the difference between life and death for someone suffering sudden cardiac arrest, and it is perhaps surprising that there are currently relatively few public access defibrillators in Ross. We therefore approached Ross on Wye Town Council for a grant towards the cost of an AED and were thrilled when we heard that we had been awarded a grant of £1,000. Together with a separate grant of £549 from Herefordshire Community Foundation, the entire cost of the AED has been covered.
It would not be appropriate for us to provide detailed clinical guidacne on what to do in the event that somebody nearby has suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, but the key steps are:
- Dial 999
- Commence cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) following the operator's instructions while awaiting ambulance arrival
- Locate and open the AED cabinet using the code provided by the 999 operator, remove the AED device and follow the audio instructions on how to attach the defibrillator pads and deliver the required shocks
Although you don't need to be trained in how to use an AED, if you are interested in learning more, AEDdonate is the charity which supplied our AED and they run free monthly training sessions. These are online awareness sessions which last just one hour and can be accessed via this link: https://www.aeddonate.org.uk/events.
We are most grateful to Ross on Wye Town Council and Herefordshire Community Foundation for their support of our application for funds to enable us to install this AED. While we hope it won't ever be needed for any of our members or visitors, it is a comfort to know that we now have one!