How a passing first-aid trainer saved a woman’s life
When Lynda Donaldson suffered from cardiac arrest outside her restaurant in County Down, she had been feeling fine and having a great day. She was just arriving back at her restaurant with her husband, when she suddenly felt dizzy. She didn’t even have the time to explain this to her husband before she collapsed.
A passing nurse stopped to administer cardiopulmonary resuscitation, but the real stroke of luck came when a first aid trainer drove past the scene. In his boot, he had a defibrillator which he was able to use to keep her alive.
The woman is now starting a campaign to buy and install defibrillators in public places. The first ten minutes after cardiac arrest are crucial if a patient is to survive, and having this equipment available for use could be enormously helpful.
If you want to ensure that you are providing the best first-aid facilities possible to safeguard the lives of your employees, you should think about investing in a defibrillator and making sure your first-aiders have received the relevant first aid training.
Should anyone be unfortunate enough to suffer from cardiac arrest while on your premises, you would be giving them the best possible chances of survival.