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Defibrillator in boot of car saves a life

Posted on: Wednesday 25th April 2012

ONE of the directors of a big engineering firm in Glasgow owes his life to a worker in the IT department who happened to have a mobile defibrillator in the back of his car. Mark Griffiths, managing director of the power systems division of Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES) was saved after having a cardiac arrest thanks to the quick response of Craig Watson, an IT engineer who is also Commandant of the Renfrew company of St Andrew's First Aid. Mr Griffiths 58, is now backing a campaign by St Andrew's First Aid to increase awareness of mobile defibrillators and to encourage people to learn how to use them. Craig Watson, 37, an IT engineer said he just happened to be "in the right place at the right time" when Mr Griffiths collapsed. The first aider said: "I had just arrived in the car park when one of our first aiders came running out saying one of our directors had collapsed. I jumped out of the car and ran up the stairs to the office where he was lying on the floor. "One of the trained first aiders was already performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation. I could see the severity of the situation. "Luckily I had a defibrillator in the back of the car. I left the first aider performing CPR, ran back to the car, grabbed the defibrillator and ran back up to the office." Craig Watson had never had to use the Laerdel FR2 machine in an emergency before - but after 17 years in St Andrew's First Aid and many first aid training courses he knew what to do. "I got the defibrillator ready and stuck the pads on him - when you do that the machine prompts you what to do. It said a shock was advised. "We delivered a shock and carried on with the CPR but there was still no sign of a pulse. The machine advised a second shock. Thirty seconds after the second shock was delivered the colour started to come back into his face. "I could see from the defibrillator that there was a heart rhythm - then the pulse came back." Mr Griffith's heart had stopped for about eight minutes - but by the time the ambulance arrived he was conscious - although he couldn't remember anything that had happened. Craig Watson said: "You should have seen the faces on the ambulance crew when I told them I had delivered two shocks and he was back. After two shocks the chance of surviving lowers." Mr Griffiths was taken to the Southern General Hospital in Glasgow where his heart stopped a further seven times. He was fitted with an internal defibrillator and has made a full recovery. Craig Watson said: "He certainly thanked me and his family thanked me too. He's taking it easy but he has a whole new perspective on life. I was proud of what I did but it's just back to normal now. I have trained for years in first aid and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. The training kicks in and you just go for it." The events of last November 7 have also changed things within Balfour Beatty - which has started working with Heartstart UK to ensure more staff receive training in CPR. The company has also been looking into having mobile defibrillators in its workplaces. Jim Dorman, training manager at St Andrew's First Aid said: "We are very keen for mobile defibrillators to be available in work places and public areas. Evidence shows that early intervention with a defibrillator can be crucial in helping to save lives when someone has had a cardiac arrest." Balfour Beatty and Mark Griffiths are now backing St Andrew's First Aid campaign to increase awareness of the uses of mobile defibrillation devices. Mr Griffiths said: "I owe my life to the skill, experience and quick reactions of the first aiders at BBES and in particular to Craig for which my family and I are profoundly grateful. Having first hand experience of what having a portable defibrillator can do, I am a strong advocate for having them in work places and in other public locations."

Referees take stress test for launch of Know Your Blood Pressure Campaign

Posted on: Tuesday 10th April 2012

Scotland's top whistlers will measure their stress levels on William Hill Scottish Cup week to support the launch of the Know Your Blood Pressure Campaign. The launch of the Know Your Blood Pressure Campaign in Scotland will take place at the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-finals this weekend. The campaigns is aimed at increasing public awareness of the links between high blood pressure and strokes and to support the campaign, match referees William Collum and Euan Norris, have agreed to have their blood pressure taken. John Fleming, Head Referee Development at the Scottish Football Association, said: "I am delighted our referees are supporting the launch of Know Your Blood Pressure campaign in Scotland. Referees are under a lot of pressure during games, especially so during high profile ones, so it will be fascinating to see if there is an effect on their blood pressure. High blood pressure shows no symptoms and can be often referred to as the 'silent killer'. Everyone should get their blood pressure checked because it is the only way to know if you have it and it can be a serious risk to your health." The Know Your Blood Pressure Campaign is spearheaded by The Stroke Association in partnership with St Andrew's First Aid and Rotary International. At the William Hill Scottish Cup semi-finals, the referees will have their blood pressure taken before, during and after the matches to see what impact the occasion has on their blood pressure. Maddy Halliday, Director Scotland of The Stroke Association, said: "High blood pressure is the single biggest risk factor for stroke increasing your chances of having a stroke by 40%. Stroke can be devastating and affects thousands of people in Scotland including young and old - even babies. But it can be prevented and knowing your blood pressure is vital. If people can eat healthily, exercise, avoid smoking and drink alcohol in moderation, they will reduce their chance of having high blood pressure and a stroke. We are delighted to be working in partnership with St Andrew's First Aid and Rotary to deliver this campaign across Scotland." Stuart Callison, Chief Executive of St Andrew's First Aid, said: "We are delighted to be a partner in this campaign. Some of our volunteers have already been trained to measure blood pressure. It is our intention to train more volunteers to measure blood pressure and offer help and advice about stroke and the related risk factors, in order to spread the message that high blood pressure is a major risk to your health." John Barbour, District Governor of Rotary District 1020, said: "High blood pressure can impact enormously on someone's life and can lead to a stroke. Rotary is pleased to support the launch of the Know Your Blood Pressure Campaign in Scotland with the hope that by raising awareness we can perhaps save lives". Specsavers, the official sponsor of the Scottish FA match officials, has shown their continued support for referees in Scotland by donating £500 to the Know Your Blood Pressure campaign. Specsavers are entering into their tenth year in partnership with the Scottish FA match officials and are proud to support the Stroke Association at a time when health issues are particularly prominent within the football world. Jim Quinn, the Scottish Chairman for Specsavers, commented: "Specsavers are delighted to be supporting such a worthy cause as the Stroke Association and particularly the 'Know Your Blood Pressure' initiative. As the official optical and hearing partner for the Scottish FA match officials it is incredibly important to us that all Scottish FA referees have the best levels of care so that they can perform their duties on the pitch. It's fantastic to see the referees of the forthcoming William Hill Scottish Cup Semi Finals being used as a vehicle to promote the charity and an issue that can affect everyone both inside and outside of football."

Heartstart pupils presented with life saving certificates

Posted on: Monday 2nd April 2012

Pupils from North Lanarkshire Council High Schools, who were taught how to save lives in a health initiative, were proudly presented with their life saving certificates at a recent awards ceremony. The pupils from high schools in Monklands participated in the North Lanarkshire Council Heartstart programme which is co-ordinated in Scotland by the British Heart Foundation in partnership with St Andrew's First Aid. The aim is to teach pupils what to do in life-threatening emergencies and during the programme pupils were given basic life support skills to enable them to save lives. Since 2008 the Heartstart programme has been delivered in North Lanarkshire schools and managed by a North Lanarkshire Council Heartstart coordinator who oversees the training programme and provides ongoing support and advice. St Andrew's First Aid provides fully trained and qualified First Aid Trainer Assessors. Once the programme has been delivered within a school, staff are then able to become affiliated to Heartstart and receive training packs, publicity and reference material and access to seminars and support from Heartstart UK. Stuart Callison, chief executive of St Andrew's First Aid, believes that working in partnership with other voluntary organisations to promote the benefits of First Aid is really important. "Heartstart is just one of the ways that we network with partners to ensure elements of First Aid are taught in Scotland. The programme includes skills such as dealing with choking, serious bleeding and helping someone that may be having a heart attack. Knowing what to do in an emergency is critical. If you can do CPR you can buy the time needed for professional help to arrive and help save the life of your loved one. Being able to do CPR more than doubles their chance of survival." Heartstart co-ordinator Charlie Fawcett said: "The programme has been designed to articulate with the Curriculum for Excellence and contribute to learners' wider skills which will benefit them and their wider community. Such life-saving skills and the associated gain in self-efficacy is particularly important given the health and social challenges facing the communities in which many of the NLC schools are situated."