Cornwall Air Ambulance has installed defibrillators at its HQ in Newquay, in its furniture collection vans and in its seven charity shops, to help anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest.
Often found in public places, the potentially lifesaving devices are used in emergencies when someone’s heart stops beating.
They give an electric shock to the heart which, in some cases, can be used to reset the normal rhythm of the heart. This is critical in trying to save a patient’s life.
When used, the defibrillator will instruct you what to do and how to use the device, until the emergency services can arrive and provide further care.
Last year, Cornwall Air Ambulance responded to 356 cardiac related missions, 330 of which were cardiac arrests. That is around one third of the 1,050 incidents the crew attended across the whole of 2022.
Chief executive Tim Bunting said: “Having access to defibrillators in our shops, vans and here at our headquarters means that members of the public, our staff and volunteers can be treated as quickly as possible in the event of a cardiac arrest.
“We’re pleased to be able to offer this as part of our service to the people of Cornwall, and our ongoing commitment to provide the best possible critical care to patients.”
