Neighbour’s death jolts community into action

THE death of a neighbour has prompted 45 people in St Marychurch to take up the offer of free training on how to use their defibrillator to cope when someone suffers a heart attack.

Three free training sessions were fully booked by local businesses, local residents, and a retired doctor. The training sessions provided the practical skills to use the defibrillators that are now being provided in many communities.

One of the trainees said: “I feel much more confident to use this equipment. Although I hope never to have to use a defibrillator, I feel that in an emergency this training has been invaluable”.

The free sessions were delivered by training specialists, OCP West, which provides a wide range of courses for healthcare professionals.

Head of OCP West, Phil Sturgess, lives near St Marychurch and was quick to respond to the death of a local resident when no one was able to use the defibrillator. He said: “It is so good that defibrillators are now being installed in local communities, but it is crucial that people have the knowledge and confidence to make use of the life-saving equipment. In St Marychurch, we now have 45 more people with a chance to save lives.

“I just hope that, while defibrillators are being installed in communities throughout the country, our local initiative will prompt others to deliver the training that is needed to give people the confidence to make use of those defibrillators to save lives.”