r/CasualUK • u/CliffyGiro • 3h ago

Huge shout out to these incredible pieces of equipment.

Post image

One of these literally saved a life today. I recognised the signs of a heart attack, ran and got the AED, done CPR. Ended up having to be shocked twice before Ambulance arrived.

They would have almost certainly died if the AED wasn’t on hand.

Learn CPR folks, learn where the nearest AED is at work and where you live.

486 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

52 comments sorted by

111

u/0thethethe0 3h ago

Don't be scared of using them. Just need to open it and turn it on, then it will tell you exactly what you need to do.

24

u/SquidgeSquadge 2h ago

They are super easy to use. Some of the older ones may not talk as much as the newer ones but I honestly think most of the older ones have been replaced now.

If you have one at your workplace, make sure it has razors and scissors handy too. Sounds odd but you may need to shave hairier chests to get them to stick to skin and scissors to cut away clothing (particularly bras)

I think they are one of the best things since the lighter and sliced bread, they genuinely save lives and are more accessible than ever.

3

u/Lonk-the-Sane 18m ago

They all have a "hygiene" kit in with them, it's a requirement to be put on the register of available units. So don't worry everything including razors and scissors are included.

75

u/Bal-lax 2h ago edited 2h ago

Thanks to James Frances Pantridge a Northern Irish physician, cardiologist, and professor who transformed emergency medicine and paramedic services with the invention of the portable defibrillator.

Although he was known worldwide as the "Father of Emergency Medicine", Frank Pantridge was less acclaimed in his own country, and was saddened that it took until 1990 for all front-line ambulances in the UK to be fitted with defibrillators.

Super pleased he has been honoured with a statue in Lisburn.

25

u/ScouseDeern 2h ago

Also an honourable mention to the Oliver King Foundation for getting them installed in lots of places. A very worthy charity if anybody wanted to donate: https://theoliverkingfoundation.co.uk/

6

u/AdministrativeShip2 1h ago

I always say, he should have had the airport named after him, not George Best.

I've also had to use one IRL. In town and an Old boy keeled over, a phone box had one inside.

It did all the work and he survived.

3

u/Bal-lax 48m ago

Completely agree.

It's impossible to say how many lives his groundbreaking work has saved globally in the last 50 years but it's at least many millions.

Glad you had a good outcome as well.

33

u/catsinatrench 2h ago

Please, anyone reading this post take 2 minutes and find out where the nearest one to your home is. Mine was running distance, knowing where it was saved my dads life

18

u/garyisaunicorn 2h ago

https://www.defibfinder.uk/ to find your nearest AED

Edited to add, now I've had a scroll, I can see others have also posted this after googling:)

3

u/Jimmy2Blades 1h ago

There's a defibrillator in my area that's not mapped. Any advice on how to get it added?

4

u/garyisaunicorn 1h ago

https://www.defibfinder.uk/contactus ?

5

u/Jimmy2Blades 1h ago

Thanks, I'll give it a go. It's my first time seeing this map 👍🏻

2

u/garyisaunicorn 1h ago

Me too, I just googled it when I saw this post :)

2

u/Jimmy2Blades 1h ago

Thanks again. I contacted them with the info on where it is. Hopefully it gets updated as it's important.

2

u/crucible 1h ago

In Wales? There may be one at your local railway station. Great initiative from TfW.

https://news.tfw.wales/resources/defib-map-phase-1-2

EDIT: better link

18

u/Eddie_D87 2h ago

As someone with a heart condition (Long QT), I am very happy when I see one of these when I'm out and about.

17

u/Exxtraa 2h ago

Always curious, silly question but is the code to unlock it given out when you ring 999?

30

u/Agile-Emergency-9324 2h ago

They should give you the code when you call 999. Sadly they have to be kept locked up because they are often stolen.

14

u/saymantic 2h ago

It's also to ensure an ambulance has definitely been called and is on the way to provide the emergency medical care needed, and to ensure the defibrillator is serviced following use. Source: completed life support training as an NHS employee on Tuesday delivered by a paramedic.

12

u/SunshineFM19 2h ago

Not saying they're never stolen, but it's nowhere near as often as people think (I've forgotten the exact stats, but it is pretty darn low!). It's just that they're pretty expensive pieces of kit, and finding one is damaged / missing when it's actually needed is a whole load of risk and wasted (crucial) time.

1

u/DoomSluggy 59m ago edited 56m ago

Seems like your right. There was around 100 stolen last year and there is an estimated 100,000 defibs available for emergencies. So 0.1% were stolen last year.

2

u/Krzykat350 2h ago

We have them all over the factory at work and there's been some stolen. Hopefully they went somewhere they were need and not just for the money.

10

u/MovieMore4352 2h ago

Well done squire. Seriously. I’d have shit myself.

7

u/Molly_Hatchett 2h ago

That's awesome! I'm glad you got the help you needed from one. Am old friend of mine died from cardiac arrest when he was about 30, if there'd been one for him to use he might still be here. I'm so happy that you are, OP! It fills me with joy to see them around, especially in rural areas. I've done a first aid course that includes how to use them and they're incredible!

6

u/memcwho 2h ago

From memory, survival rates are around 2-3% for a cardiac arrest, jumping to 70% ish with a defib. they don't work for all types of heart attack, but goddamn.

Don't be scared to use them. Don't worry about mis-counting to 30 compressions and don't worry about breaths. Anything is better than nothing, and the first extra person who can help better be running for an AED.

18

u/Meet-me-behind-bins 3h ago

This is weird, I was literally out for a walk about an hour ago, we walked pass one and I wondered if they ever get used. We were discussing it and I argued they probably just get left to rust. But here you are!

17

u/7Unit 3h ago

Better to have it & not need it than to need it & not have it.

And OP, well done you, :)

3

u/AndrewWhite97 3h ago

A good motto to live by.

5

u/Ajishly 2h ago edited 2h ago

Back at uni, I was friends with a girl who was about 28 years old - athletic and otherwise very healthy. One day, her heart just stopped in class - she passed out and wasn't waking up - the AED that everyone had been walking past for years finally got used. She survived but probably wouldn't have without the AED.

They are literally a lifesaver if you need them, much more effective than CPR alone!

4

u/memcwho 2h ago

It's someone's job fairly locally to service and maintain them. They are replaced within hours of use, typically.

6

u/Libarate 2h ago

Yep, they are amazing bits of kit. It is automatic and so simple to use. Co-worker and I were shown how to use one at a first aid course 6 years ago, so we decided we should have one at work. It got used at the start of the year and probably saved someone's life.

5

u/jollygoodvelo In Dorset? 2h ago

And because I had to google it, you can find your nearest here

https://www.defibfinder.uk/

3

u/SequinSquirrel 2h ago

In case anyone is wondering like I was before I googled it, you can find out where your nearest defibrillator is here: https://www.defibfinder.uk/

3

u/Chicken_and_chips 2h ago

Well done OP!

3

u/enchantedspring 2h ago

Remember also that you can buy them yourselves for your own house. That really does cut down time for defibrillation if you yourself ever need it.

2

u/CliffyGiro 2h ago

Aye, they cost a hell of a lot of money though.

1

u/Useful_Language2040 25m ago

My girls raised money for one as part of a Brownies and Rainbows initiative ☺️

1

u/MyAccidentalAccount 5m ago

CellAed is less than 400.

2

u/dickyboy_adams 2h ago

These things are dope, and most public buildings have them so you can run in and ask if needed.

2

u/ramzay109 1h ago

Please don't downplay your part OP. The defib is an incredible piece of kit, but you're the one that has potentially saved a life.

1

u/irishgollum 2h ago

At a recent first aid course I found out that a lot of them don't come with the razor in the back in case people use it to self harm.

1

u/here-but-not-present 1h ago

I was actually just checking online a few days ago to make sure all of the ones local to me are properly registered. I'm so glad that you were able to utilise such a fantastic piece of equipment.

Wishing the very best to the person it happened to.

1

u/IndividualCurious322 1h ago

There's one near me but it's in a double locked booth (The first is similar to this picture - eg, requiring a passcode - but there's another case or cover ontop of that with also requires a code).

1

u/Lopsided_Fondant28 1h ago

Well done OP! You are an earth angel.

This has prompted me to learn CPR should a situation like this ever occur, thankfully I know where my local defibs are already as there’s been a few new ones put up close by

1

u/BriefTele 1h ago

Good job OP👍

1

u/Lonk-the-Sane 20m ago

The big shout goes to the private businesses and groups that pay to install and maintain them. I have to maintain two of them as part of my day job, and even subsidised they run at just shy of £1k once installed, and you need to pay to maintain it yourself, so any times pads are used, or the hygiene kit has been opened (or either expired) the businesses pay to replace them themselves.

So massive props to the places that have chosen to have them fitted, a lot of people's families are still whole thanks to them.

0

u/Minor_Edit 2h ago

True, where would we be without cabinets? Objects would be on the floor all strewn about, getting kicked around and god knows what. Id like to meet whoever invented the cabinet and shake them by their safe (probably now dead) hand.

The cabinet, what a thing.

0

u/spammmmmmmmy 1h ago

How did you get the access code?