Media ReleaseFor release 19 April 2007

Sign up to defibrillator register

A province-wide campaign to develop a Northern Ireland portable defibrillator register is being spearheaded by the Royal Hospitals, Belfast.

At present it is not known how many portable defibrillators there are in Northern Ireland or how many people are trained to use them. However, it is known that the number of lives saved greatly increases when defibrillators are rapidly available in the hands of trained volunteers.

It is hoped that information provided by the register will help achieve improved co-ordination and speedier responses to patients with cardiac arrest throughout Northern Ireland.

The hospital is keen to hear from any business, organisation, club or individual who has purchased a portable defibrillator. Cardiac Research Nurse, Patricia Glover, who is compiling the register, is also seeking information on the make and location of the defibrillator as well as the name of the person responsible for it and the number of people who have been trained to use it.

‘It is essential to determine where portable defibrillators can be found in the community - in leisure centres, shopping malls, and other public places.’ said Patricia. ‘By developing a single register we can help identify areas where defibrillators are, and are not, available. This can assist ambulance crews as well as identifying training and resource needs throughout Northern Ireland.’

Anyone wishing to include details of their defibrillator on the new register should contact Patricia Glover on (028) 9063 4819 or email patricia.glover@belfasttrust.hscni.net.

ENDS
Notes to Editor
Patricia Glover, Cardiac Nurse at the Royal, and Dr Andrew Hamilton, Cardiology Research Fellow, will be available for interview on 19 April at 10.30a.m. To arrange an interview please contact the Belfast Trust Media Office on 028 9096 0096 or out of hours on 028 9056 5656

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 key to survival is the time that elapses between a cardiac arrest and the arrival of a portable defibrillator with a person trained to use it.

The portable defibrillator means the general public has access to life-saving measures 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 and receive no government support.

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

Image: Portable defibrillator