Heart Attack & Cardiac Arrest – The Defibrillator

The Parish has a defibrillator, in a cabinet located on the outside of the Village Hall. It is designed to be used by anyone, without training, in an emergency.

In the event of need, first dial 999 and take the advice of the Ambulance Service.

 If they tell you to use the defibrillator, you will need to unlock the cabinet first.

• Key in C159X on the key pad and then press the key marked with a tick.
• You will hear a click as the lock opens.
• Grasp the sides of the cabinet at the top and pull towards you.
• Lift out the defibrillator and take it to the patient.
• When you open the case, the defibrillator tells you what to do.

We recommend that you keep this information in a place where you will be able to find it quickly should the need ever arise.

Heart attack and cardiac arrest symptoms

A heart attack may cause persistent, vice-like chest pain, which may spread to the arms, neck, jaw, back or stomach. Skin may be ashen and lips blue. The person may feel short of breath, giddy or sick.  Note that heart attacks do not always cause chest pains. In cardiac arrest, the person becomes unconscious, is no longer breathing and there is no pulse. It may happen without warning or follow a heart attack.

You can find out more about heart attack and cardiac arrest on the NHS and National Heart Foundation web-sites.