LIFESAVER REWARDED
A MAN who helped to save the life of a football referee has been awarded a Certificate of Special Recognition.
On Sunday, September 9 a football match took place between Ipstones FC and Tean Rangers at Ipstones Recreation Ground.
During the game referee Jim Tomlinson was taken ill on the pitch and collapsed.
An early assessment of his condition confirmed a cardiac arrest and a 999 call was made. Off duty firefighters started CPR while another member of the public raced to get the community defibrillator sited on the Memorial Hall outside wall.
The defibrillator had been installed by Aeddonate in partnership with Ipstones Memorial Hall.
As events unfolded Paul Barks, an off-duty firefighter led the community efforts in providing CPR and the use of the defibrillator.
Last week the chief executive of Aeddonate, Jamie Richards, presented Paul with a Certificate of Special Recognition.
Mr Richards said: “It’s a massive demonstration of how the community can come together when faced with the unthinkable, further training will be arranged in the village for anyone who wants to attend.
“On behalf of the team at Aeddonate we would like to wish Jim and his family all the very best in his recovery and a huge well done to everyone at Ipstones on that day.
“A defibrillator is a medical device designed to deliver a shock to the heart to halt erratic electrical activity. Chances of survival reduce dramatically for each minute that passes due to lack of oxygen being supplied to the vital organs. The chain of survival consists of four key elements starting with an early 999 call, early CPR, early defibrillation and finally early access to advanced life support, but like any chain it is only as strong as its weakest link.
“Thank goodness Ipstones were fully prepared.”
Mr Barks said it was a matter of being in the right place at the right time.
He said: “My training with the fire service helped me to remain calm and focused while looking after Mr Tomlinson.
“I have now been told that Mr Tomlinson is out of hospital and back home.
“He hopes to come up and say hello in the near future.
“I am really pleased to receive the certificate, which now sits proudly on a shelf at home.
“I would recommended that everyone learns about heart start and have a basic knowledge because you never know when it could be needed. I also think that a screening process in vitally important and should be made available to young people as there have been instances where young footballers have suffered a cardiac arrest.”
A paramedic, land ambulance, first responders and the air ambulance attended the incident. Mr Tomlinson was flown to the Royal Stoke University Hospital for further specialised treatment.
Aeddonate are now in the process of donating defibrillators to Ipstones FC and Tean Rangers, who will each have their own machine available at every match in the future.
Anyone who wishes to find out more can visit www. aeddonate.org.uk or check out the Aeddonate Facebook page where you can find more details about the free training sessions on offer every month.