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| Public heart shock scheme success | Public heart shock scheme success |
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| A scheme to provide defibrillators in public places in England and Wales should be extended, researchers say. | A scheme to provide defibrillators in public places in England and Wales should be extended, researchers say. |
| A total of 132 people were saved between 1999 and 2005 because they could be quickly "shocked" at the scene when their hearts stopped beating. | A total of 132 people were saved between 1999 and 2005 because they could be quickly "shocked" at the scene when their hearts stopped beating. |
| The Cardiff University researchers said the numbers may seem small, but it was highly unlikely any would have survived without the devices being on hand. | The Cardiff University researchers said the numbers may seem small, but it was highly unlikely any would have survived without the devices being on hand. |
| The British Heart Foundation welcomed the findings. | The British Heart Foundation welcomed the findings. |
| The prognosis for people who have a cardiac arrest outside hospital is generally very poor. | The prognosis for people who have a cardiac arrest outside hospital is generally very poor. |
| Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in adults and the most common cause is heart disease. | Sudden cardiac arrest is a leading cause of death in adults and the most common cause is heart disease. |
| If you have a defibrillator you can give a shock very quickly and it doesn't matter who gives it Dr Michael Colquhoun, study leader 'My heart stopped in the pool' | If you have a defibrillator you can give a shock very quickly and it doesn't matter who gives it Dr Michael Colquhoun, study leader 'My heart stopped in the pool' |
| The British Heart Foundation began to fund public defibrillators in the 1990s but the scheme expanded in 1999 when the government placed 700 devices in high-risk places. | The British Heart Foundation began to fund public defibrillators in the 1990s but the scheme expanded in 1999 when the government placed 700 devices in high-risk places. |
| It is now commonplace for airports, train stations and sports centres to have defibrillators on site. | It is now commonplace for airports, train stations and sports centres to have defibrillators on site. |
| The devices are also issued to volunteers trained as "community first responders" as they may be able to reach victims faster than conventional ambulance crews. | The devices are also issued to volunteers trained as "community first responders" as they may be able to reach victims faster than conventional ambulance crews. |
| Similar schemes exist in Northern Ireland and the Scottish Executive is looking at providing the devices after a government committee recently recommended their use. | Similar schemes exist in Northern Ireland and the Scottish Executive is looking at providing the devices after a government committee recently recommended their use. |
| Survival | Survival |
| Dr Michael Colquhoun and colleagues found shocks were given to 735 victims over the six-year period - either by a member of the public or trained volunteers. | Dr Michael Colquhoun and colleagues found shocks were given to 735 victims over the six-year period - either by a member of the public or trained volunteers. |
| Return of circulation was achieved in a third of them with 18% surviving, their report in the journal Resuscitation showed. | Return of circulation was achieved in a third of them with 18% surviving, their report in the journal Resuscitation showed. |
| If the device was immediately available on site, 30% of victims were saved. | If the device was immediately available on site, 30% of victims were saved. |
| The chances of success were also much higher if the cardiac arrest was witnessed by someone and resuscitation with CPR was done straightaway. | The chances of success were also much higher if the cardiac arrest was witnessed by someone and resuscitation with CPR was done straightaway. |
| Dr Colquhoun said the figures may seem small but the prognosis after a cardiac arrest is poor. | Dr Colquhoun said the figures may seem small but the prognosis after a cardiac arrest is poor. |
| "If you have a defibrillator you can give a shock very quickly and it doesn't matter who gives it - anyone can press the buttons, they are very user friendly. | "If you have a defibrillator you can give a shock very quickly and it doesn't matter who gives it - anyone can press the buttons, they are very user friendly. |
| "This is something the government really did get right. | "This is something the government really did get right. |
| "No other country has the same network of defibrillators." | "No other country has the same network of defibrillators." |
| He said the scheme had been particularly successful in leisure centres where there was a high rate of survival after someone had been shocked at the scene. | He said the scheme had been particularly successful in leisure centres where there was a high rate of survival after someone had been shocked at the scene. |
| Colin Elding, chest pain programme manager for the British Heart Foundation said they had been funding public defibrillators and training people to use them for many years. | Colin Elding, chest pain programme manager for the British Heart Foundation said they had been funding public defibrillators and training people to use them for many years. |
| "This research shows that many people who survive a sudden cardiac arrest in the community have often received early defibrillation using a public access defibrillator administered by a trained responder," he added. | "This research shows that many people who survive a sudden cardiac arrest in the community have often received early defibrillation using a public access defibrillator administered by a trained responder," he added. |
| Have you or anyone you know been saved by someone using a defibrillator? Or have you ever used one in a public place? Send us your experiences using the form below: | |