Learn how to use a defibrillator

LESS than half of people in Wales have the confidence to use a defibrillator in an emergency, a new poll has found.

A Welsh Government survey found that just 48% of respondents would know how to use a defibrillator – however, this rose to 95% for people who had received training.

To help save more lives, St John Ambulance Cymru is urging more people to learn how to use a defibrillator as part of a nationwide campaign.

Thousands of people have already been given the confidence to use a defibrillator since the campaign began in 2018, and even more are expected to be trained this year with the number of free community training sessions taking place throughout February.

St John Ambulance Cymru head of training Phil Morris said: “Each year 8,000 people have a cardiac arrest in Wales. We know that the availability of defibrillators is vital to so they can be used in an emergency.

“Our training ensures people know what to expect when using one of these life-saving devices and it also gives them the confidence to use one in a lifethreatening situation.”

A defibrillator is a device which gives a shock to the heart when the heart has stopped (cardiac arrest). The device will only give a shock when the heart is in a shockable rhythm.

St John Ambulance Cymru community trainer Dionne Ford said: “When someone is in cardiac arrest, medically speaking, they’re dead and so the worst thing you can do is nothing. By giving CPR and using a defibrillator you’re giving someone another chance to live.”

You can book your space on a training session or help the charity continue their life-saving work by going to: www.sjacymru.org.uk/defibruary

Defibrillators can be registered on The Circuit online at www.thecircuit. uk