Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Hero police save man suffering heart attack
OFFICERS PERFORM CPR AND USE DEFIBRILLATOR FOR LIFE-SAVING TREATMENT AT LEISURE CENTRE
QUICK-THINKING from two police officers saved a man’s life after he suffered a cardiac arrest at a leisure centre in Hayes.
Met Police were called by the London Ambulance Service to reports of a man suffering from cardiac arrest at 8pm on Friday, November 30.
PC Nikala Halse and PC Steve Gibson were first on the scene at Botwell Green Sports and Leisure Centre, on East Avenue.
The Hayes-based officers quickly assessed the 50-year-old patient and started CPR. They also used a defibrillator to shock the man and restart his heart.
After using the life-saving piece of equipment, and continuing CPR, the man regained consciousness. London Ambulance Service paramedics then took the patient to hospital.
Hillingdon Police posted details of the dramatic story on its Facebook page on Tuesday, December 4, to show what could make the difference between life and death.
The Facebook post pointed out that police were sometimes nearer than ambulance crews to people in trouble, so could be the quickest to start basic first aid and give people who are ill a fighting chance.
It also highlighted the importance of life-saving equipment like defibrillators.
Hillingdon Police said: “Police officers are equipped with defibrillators and will be alerted to a potential cardiac arrest at the same time as ambulance crews, which means that if they reach the patient first, or are already on scene, they can begin providing life-saving treatment until a skilled clinician arrives.”