Defibrillators
Following Reigate Business Guild’s successful grant application via the Reigate & Banstead Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and subsequent planning approval we are pleased to see two Defibrillators now in place in Reigate’s Town Centre.
The first site on Church Street by the entrance to St Lawrences Way is strategically placed at the entrance of the town as you approach from Redhill, while the second is at the approach from Dorking – both covering areas of augmented footfall.
Both units are registered with The Circuit, the national defibrillator network used by all 14 ambulance services cross the UK. It enables ambulance services to locate the nearest units when 999 is called in response to a cardiac arrest.
We are very grateful to the landowners who gave permission for their installations and everyone who offered their time to mounting the units.
A special thanks also goes to the Member volunteers who maintain and service both Defibrillators to make sure that they remain in good working order and emergency ready.
We are keen to provide more of these life saving devices in the Town as part of our Town Improvement Initiative. These devices have increased the chances of survival as the following story testifies.
On 27th July 2018, at the end of the very hot spell, Francis, a healthy 50 year old, was taken gravely ill very suddenly. He collapsed on Cockshot Hill walking back home with his wife Caron (after a relaxing yoga class!) from Reigate town centre. He suffered a cardiac arrest – his heart stopped and he was clinically dead for 13 mins! Luckily, two passers-by – an off-duty policeman Mikko Ball and a FedEx driver Alin Nicola stopped to help and gave him CPR until the ambulance arrived. Paramedics gave him 3 shocks of a defibrillator before his heart re-started, by which time the Air Ambulance had landed in nearby Priory Park and he was flown by helicopter to King’s College Hospital in London for surgery.
Thankfully, and in no small part down to the two Good Samaritans who performed the CPR for so long, Francis survived and recovered very quickly and left hospital after 10 days and has now made a full recovery. Very scary, but more so for Caron who watched the whole event unfold in front of her! It makes you realise (if you haven’t already) how precious life is.
We are now fortunate to have a number of accessible Defibrillators in the Reigate area, although many of them are only available during working hours as they are mainly located in office buildings or shop premises.
It is very important that businesses register their defibrillator with The Circuit as soon as they are installed.
Click here to find the nearest available unit: https://www.defibfinder.uk/
If you are in charge of an organisation that has one, make sure you register the device with The Circuit.
Speedy care is vital if someone is having a cardiac arrest.
Every minute without CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and defibrillation reduces the chances of survival. Using a defibrillator can double the chance of survival in the event of a cardiac arrest.
How to use a defibrillator youtube video: https://youtu.be/8A0kljQU48U