Welsh Ambulance Service and British Heart Foundation Cymru in pioneering partnership to save more lives

THE Welsh Ambulance Service (WAS) and British Heart Foundation (BHF) Cymru have joined forces in a bid to improve cardiac arrest survival rates.

There are approximately 8,000 sudden cardiac arrests annually in Wales. A cardiac arrest happens when the heart suddenly stops pumping blood around the body. Unless someone starts cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) the person may suffer permanent damage to the brain and other organs. It can also sometimes be corrected by giving an electric shock through the chest wall, using a defibrillator.

Richard Lee, Head of Clinical Services at the WAS said: “Once somebody suffers a cardiac arrest every minute counts.  They need immediate CPR from those around them who will often be family members or passers-by.  As well as good quality CPR the patient needs to be treated with a defibrillator.

 “Defibrillators are carried on all WAS ambulances and rapid response cars but are also often found in public buildings such as train stations, churches, museums or shopping centres. After the patient has been defibrillated the patient will require the care of a paramedic to take them to the right hospital and provide the right treatment on the way.”

BHF Cymru is currently running ‘No Time To Wait’, a Wales-wide fundraising appeal to fund more people to be trained in emergency life-support skills and to place more defibrillators in locations across Wales, with help from the WAS.

Richard added: “There is a need to increase engagement and involvement from communities in developing care and support. We also want to spread the message that anyone can provide CPR or use a public access defibrillator in a cardiac arrest situation.”

The WAS employs Clinical Support Officers to provide clinical general management within the operational areas of the Trust. The Trust also has a Public Access Defibrillation (PAD) team which oversees the co-ordination and training of PAD schemes across Wales.

BHF Cymru has funded two new Clinical Support Officers who will link the PAD and clinical support teams across Wales. They are existing paramedics Robin Petterson and Carl Powell.

Carl, who is based in Brecon and who has worked for the WAS for 19 years, said: “The chain of survival in cardiac arrest is taught on all basic first aid courses and advanced life support courses throughout the UK.  The public play an essential role if the successful resuscitation of a patient suffering a pre hospital cardiac arrest is to be achieved.

“I believe the WAS and the BHF Cymru will work hard in partnership to promote awareness of both PAD schemes and the role the people of Wales need to play to achieve an increase in the number of patients surviving.” Robin, who is based in Barry, and has 27 years of experience as a paramedic, added: “I am really excited to be working with BHF Cymru and the WAS to help improve cardiac arrest survival during my secondment.”

The key to improving cardiac arrest survival is the provision of early defibrillation and good quality CPR, so refresher classes will also be provided for all WAS responders and Community First Responders used by the Trust.

Joanne Oliver, Area Development Manager for BHF Cymru, said: “We are delighted that this project is now underway, thanks to the funding of the No Time To Wait appeal. We encourage people to learn CPR and help save lives by making sure they know the signs and what to do. Supporting this project is a key way to increasing the cardiac survival rates in Wales and we fully support this aim.”