Firefighters from Kingsway White Watch made use of their first aid training to save the life of a man who suffered a heart attack earlier this month [12 Nov]. 

While travelling back from a fire call, the crew from Derbyshire FRS came across a Police Constable administering first aid to a man who had collapsed with what transpired to be a multiple heart attack.

Fortunately, White Watch were able to call on their recent first aid training and use a defibrillator and oxygen to revive the gentleman, who subsequently was safely transferred to hospital.

Watch Manager Barclay Masterson said "It came as a total shock that we were faced with a gentleman having a heart attack and can thank our recent training in the use of defibrillators, that we were able to successfully revive this gentleman." 

According to a spokesperson, this is the first time a member of Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service has had to put their training into practice and "without their quick thinking and action a different outcome would have been highly likely". 

For every minute that passes without defibrillation, chances of survival decrease by 10% according to British Heart Foundation statistics.

Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service has defibrillators strategically placed at different buildings throughout the Service, as well as being on every fire appliance, both Wholetime and Retained.

DFRS' Mark Burnham added: "In the UK, one person suffers a heart attack every two minutes, but the majority could be saved if their heart was shocked back into rhythm.

"Derbyshire Fire & Rescue Service believes defibrillators can save lives and will continue to ensure that their staff, both operational and support are fully trained in their use."

Posted 26/11/2012 by richard.hook@pavpub.com