Now that the new year is upon us, you may have set yourself a New Year’s Resolution. If you have, great! But before you finalise your list, we have something in mind that you could add to your resolutions list that could go as far as to you saving a life! 

During the Christmas and New Year period there is an increase in festivities and events such as family get togethers, parties and work functions. Whilst this is a fun and festive time of year for all, it can also mean a time of excess, especially when it comes to alcohol.

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) and effective CPR is the only definitive treatment for a victim of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).

A defibrillator is a device that gives a high energy electric shock to the heart, through the chest wall to someone who is in cardiac arrest in an attempt to restart the heart in a regular rhythm. 

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, is a life-saving skill that everyone should have as you never know when you may need CPR to save a person’s life.

People die every day from cardiac arrest, drowning, smoke inhalation and other causes as a result of family members, friends and bystanders who do not know how to respond to an emergency situation effectively.

In the time it takes the emergency services to arrive to the scene, the victim’s chance of survival is rapidly decreasing. Often, it is too late which is why bystander CPR is so important.