We’re set to save lives

Karate boss welcomes defibrillator

09.06.2018 A cardiac arrest survivor says a defibrillator being installed in a community centre will save lives.

Tom Lambie runs karate sessions at Bishopton Community Centre, where a heart- start machine is being installed today.

Volunteers from the centre raised money to cover the majority of costs for the defibrillator, with charity St John Scotland topping up funds as part of their scheme to increase public access to the devices across the country.

The charity is dedicated to saving and enhancing life and aims to give more people a chance of surviving cardiac arrest.

Tom knows first- hand the importance of the devices after having his life saved by one last year when his heart suddenly stopped during a training course in Caithness.

His colleagues performed CPR until paramedics arrived and used a defibrillator to restart his heart, which had been stopped for nine full minutes.

He said: “I am so happy to see that the community centre now has a defibrillator installed and that it has the potential to save lives for both the hall users and the community as a whole .”

Cardiac arrest affects around 3,500 people in Scotland every year, with survival rates being as low as one-in-20.

Tom will join volunteers from St John Scotland and the community centre to celebrate the installation of the defibrillator where there will be a demonstration of how the device works.

Angus Loudon, executive director of St John Scotland, said: “We are very pleased that we’ve been able to install this defibrillator and offer free CPR training to the local community.

“Of course we hope the defibrillator will never need to be used, it is great to know its available 24/7 to the public and could save someone’s life.”

Lynne Hutchinson, chair of the Bishopton Community Centre Association, said it will be great to have the machine in place.

“The community centre is a really well used venue in the local area. You never know when someone is going to have a cardiac arrest so we’re pleased that we now have access to a defibrillator in case the worst should happen.

“We’re very grateful to St John Scotland for helping us with funding for the purchase of the defibrillator and providing the CPR training to help us all learn how we can save a life,” she explained.

The device is designed to be used by people with no previous training. Volunteer trainers from St John Scotland will also host a free drop-in session at the centre to teach locals how to perform CPR.