A Caernarfon man has gifted a defibrillator to a school after surviving a cardiac arrest, thanks to the swift use of a similar machine and the administration of CPR.
A Caernarfon man has gifted a defibrillator to a school after surviving a cardiac arrest, thanks to the swift use of a similar machine and the administration of CPR.
Gwyn Roberts collapsed whilst out for the day in Llandudno. A member of the public dashed to get the nearest defibrillator in a local café, whilst another person started CPR. Eight minutes later, the machine successfully restarted Mr Roberts’ heart, and thanks to the people in Llandudno who came to his rescue that day, he is here to tell the tale.
The 77-year-old is now encouraging everyone to learn the technique, as he is “living proof that CPR works”.
Following his successful treatment, Mr Roberts learnt that the company that makes the machine that saved his life – Zoll Medical UK AED – gives a free defibrillator to survivors to donate back to the community if the machine was used successfully. This is to ensure further opportunities for more lives to be saved. Mr Roberts decided to give his to Ysgol Llannefydd in Denbighshire.
Cardiac arrest survivor Gwyn Roberts hands over a defibrillator machine to headteacher of Ysgol Llannefydd, Denbighshire, Mr Gari Evans (right). Also present was Tomos Hughes, Public Access Defibrillator Support Officer (PADS Officer) with Awyr Las project called ‘Keep The Beats’.
The teaching of CPR and use of defibrillators is soon to become part of the school curriculum in Wales. This will allow children the opportunity to learn lifesaving skills early.
Following an arrest, for every minute the heart has stopped beating, the chance of survival decreases by 10%. Julie Starling, Director of Kick the Beats which is part of the North Wales NHS Charity Awyr Las: “Early CPR and defibrillation is the best combination to save a life. No training is needed to use a defibrillator as it gives voice prompts and tells you what to do.
“When you call 999 the ambulance operator will tell you where your nearest defibrillator is, never stop CPR to fetch a defibrillator, ask someone else to fetch it for you.
“CPR is an easy skill to learn, you can even learn it online at www.awyrlas.org.uk/keepthebeats”
