A COMMUNITY centre in east Reading has been given new life-saving equipment as part of a South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) innitiative.
A defibrillator device has been installed at the Pakistani Community Centre on London Road, with members of SCAS and the community centre welcoming the installation.
Defibrillators give a high-energy shock to the heart, which is a vital medical response for someone who is suffering a cardiac arrest.
When cardiac arrest causes a patient’s heart to stop, this jolt of energy restarts it as part of life-saving first aid.
Publicly accessible defibrillators make providing first aid faster and more practical, especially as few people who suffer cardiac arrest outside of a hospital survive.
The chair of the South Central Ambulance Trust, Prof Sir Keith Willett, attended the unveiling, and said: “”Only one person in ten survives a cardiac arrest outside of hospital, so the provision of locally available defibrillators in the community can provide a vital life-saving asset.
“The example of the PCC working with SCAS Governor Tony Jones in procuring the AED (automated external defibrillator) to is to be commended and I hope others will follow this example.”
Amjad Tarir, PCC trustee, said “When Tony approached us with the idea of installing a defibrillator at the centre we were only too pleased to support this initiative. It is now be available not only visitors to the centre but also users at Palmer Park playing fields and the wider east Reading area.”
Tony Jones, SCAS governor added “It is great that the AED is now available in east Reading. Anyone seeking to help someone suspected of suffering a cardiac arrest should of course dial 999 first, so that professional help can be on its way, as well as undertaking CPR first aid (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
“Hopefully we can see more added to those available in Reading in the future.”
The location of your nearest AED can be found at defibfinder.uk
