DEFIBRILLATOR or AED

The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is specially designed for people with no medical background. 

We are lucky enough to have access to a Defibrillator or AED

It is located at the front of the Village Hall, see above picture.

The machine is registered with the Great Western Ambulance Service and the Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.  A weekly routine maintenance check is made on the machine by Councillor Susanna Brigden who then passes the information onto the Great Western Ambulance Service.

The Great Western Ambulance Service also provide a yearly community awareness session, these are advertised in the Parish News and on the Parish Council Website.  

However, the UK Resuscitation Council guidelines indicate that community defibrillators should be able to be used by members of the public with or without formal training.  This is because the equipment is very easy to be used, and when you call 999, the ambulance service operator will stay on the telephone to assist you.  The equipment is also designed to talk to you and tell you what to do.  You cannot make a mistake when using the defibrillator - just follow the instructions being given. 

The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is specially designed for people with no medical background. 

When used it provides voice commands and screen messages and guides the user step-by-step through the process and will only allow it to shock a ‘shockable’ heart rhythm. 

What is a Stroke and how would I know?

From    http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Stroke/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Introduction 

A stroke is a serious, life-threatening medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off.

Strokes are a medical emergency and urgent treatment is essential because the sooner a person receives treatment for a stroke, the less damage is likely to happen.

If you suspect that you or someone else is having a stroke, phone 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance.

Signs and symptoms

The main symptoms of stroke can be remembered with the word FAST: Face-Arms-Speech-Time.

• Face – the face may have dropped on one side, the person may not be able to smile or their mouth or eye may have dropped.
• Arms – the person with suspected stroke may not be able to lift both arms and keep them there because of arm weakness or numbness in one arm.
• Speech – their speech may be slurred or garbled, or the person may not be able to talk at all despite appearing to be awake.
• Time – it is time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms.

Read more about the symptoms of a stroke.