Media Release

For Release on 1 June 2007

Woman owes life to portable defibrillator

A Downpatrick woman’s life was saved thanks to a portable defibrillator after she suffered a cardiac arrest at the recent Balmoral Show.

Lenore Rea fell unconscious while working at her family’s stall selling jam. Bystanders immediately raised the alarm and the duty doctor, Jeremy McCammon with a paramedic team, attended within a minute of her collapse and commenced CPR.

The Proparamedic team on site provided an automated ‘Samaritan’ defibrillator to assist Mrs Rea. The machine - developed by Heartsine Technologies in Belfast - showed that she needed an immediate shock to the heart to correct a potentially fatal heart rhythm. This successfully restored her heart rhythm and she is currently recovering in the Royal Victoria Hospital.

‘I am so glad that Jeremy and the defibrillator were available that evening. It saved my life. Without the defibrillator I would have died. I am feeling stronger now and hope to go home soon. Defibrillators should be widely available so that as many people as possible can survive cardiac arrests,’ said Mrs Rea.

The Royal Victoria Hospital has been engaged for several years in training hundreds of local people with no medical background to use an automated defibrillator. The number of lives saved greatly increases when portable defibrillators are rapidly available in the hands of trained volunteers. Defibrillators can now be found in airports, leisure centres, bus stations and offices.

Dr Andrew Hamilton, Cardiology Research Fellow at the Royal said: ‘Anyone can learn to use one of these machines in a single training session. The ambition of many people involved in this area is to see defibrillators as widely available as fire extinguishers – with one in every public building.’

ENDS

Notes to Editor

A defibrillator is a device which can administer a life-saving shock to the heart of a person in cardiac arrest to re-establish normal heart rhythm.

The portable defibrillator was originally invented by Professor Frank Pantridge, a consultant cardiologist at the Royal Victoria Hospital. The first version of the portable defibrillator was installed in an ambulance in 1965.

The key to survival is the time that elapses between a cardiac arrest and the administration of the shock.

The portable defibrillator means the general public has access to life-saving equipment for cardiac arrest victims outside of the hospital setting.

An automated external defibrillator costs approx £1000.

At present most portable defibrillators in the community in Northern Ireland are privately owned. They receive no government support.

Refresher training courses are essential for volunteers who train to use defibrillators in the community.

For further information please contact:

The Belfast Trust Media Office on 028 9096 0096

Out of Hours telephone 028 9056 5656