𝗞𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗲𝗲𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝘂𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘃𝗼𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗶𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗿𝗺𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗷𝗸𝗲𝗻

Een meerderheid van de Tweede Kamer steunt een plan om meer defibrillators, ook wel AED's genoemd, te plaatsen in armere wijken, én om extra burgerhulpverleners op te leiden. Een voorstel van GroenLinks-PvdA en ChristenUnie wordt gesteund door coalitiepartijen D66, VVD en CDA....

https://www.rtl.nl/nieuws/politiek/artikel/5574302/kamer-maakt-15-miljoen-vrij-voor-extra-defibrillators-arme-wijken

#Kamermeerderheid #defibrillators #armewijken

Swansea leads Wales with rollout of life-saving bleed control kits

Kits designed to save lives before paramedics arrive

The kits, which contain military-grade emergency medical supplies, are designed to help members of the public treat traumatic injuries before emergency services reach the scene.

They are now available in high-footfall locations including city and town centres, community hubs, council buildings, leisure centres, and all 14 of Swansea’s comprehensive schools.

Each CBC kit includes a tourniquet, haemostatic gauze, fox chest seal, traumafix dressing, gloves, foil blanket, and bilingual instruction card — all packed for rapid use in emergencies such as road accidents, workplace injuries, dog bites, or knife wounds.

Community-led initiative backed by council funding

The rollout was spearheaded by Melanie James, last year’s High Sheriff of West Glamorgan, who partnered with Heartbeat Trust UK to build the network.

Swansea Council has funded 100 of the kits and previously contributed nearly £200,000 to establish a city-wide defibrillator network — making Swansea the UK’s first “Defib-friendly City” with more than 650 defibrillators now in place.

Many of the new bleed control kits have been co-located with defibrillators to make them easy to find and access.

“You never want them used — but they save lives”

Melanie James said:

“I’m very grateful for the incredible support we’ve received from Swansea Council, our councillors, local businesses and private individuals. These kits have a universal application and contain clever supplies that will and do save lives.”

She added that free community training is available to help residents feel confident using the kits if needed.

Council praises partnership

Council Leader Rob Stewart said:

“I’m very grateful to Melanie and to Heartbeat Trust UK for all they are doing in making Swansea a safer place for everyone. The expansion of this scheme means more residents and visitors will have access to life-saving equipment when it is needed most.”

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#CllrRobStewart #CriticalBleedControlKit #DefibFriendlyCity #defibrillators #HighSheriffOfWestGlamorgan #MelanieJames #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil

New Public Defibrillator Installed on Marine Parade in Memory of Local Man

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.goodnewspost.co.uk/new-public-defibrillator-installed-on-marine-parade-in-memory-of-local-man/

New defibrillator installed at Llanelli play area as council tackles ‘defib desert’

The device, now active at Nightingale Court play area, has been registered on The Circuit, a national database that helps ambulance crews locate the nearest defibrillator in the event of a cardiac emergency.

Town councillor Shaun Greaney, who represents Lliedi ward, said the area had previously been a “defibrillator desert” — with no publicly accessible devices nearby.

“Every minute without treatment reduces the chance of survival by around 10 per cent,” he said. “We’ve seen tragic cases where cardiac arrests or critical bleeds could potentially have been survivable if help had been available immediately.”

The council says the new device is part of a broader push to improve emergency readiness across Llanelli.

“This Labour-led town council is spearheading a lifesaving safety drive,” Cllr Greaney added. “Early defibrillation, combined with CPR, can increase survival rates to 50–70 per cent if delivered within five minutes.”

National figures show survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests remain below 10 per cent — but experts say bystander CPR and rapid access to an AED (automated external defibrillator) can dramatically improve outcomes.

Council leader Cllr David Darkin said the council will begin offering free public training in the coming months, covering both defibrillator use and Critical Bleed Control Kits — specialist equipment designed to stop catastrophic bleeding.

“These kits are army-grade and invaluable in emergencies,” he said. “We’ll be rolling out training in community centres across Llanelli next year.”

Cllr Darkin praised Cllr Greaney for introducing the bleed control initiative to the council, and said it complements the town’s wider Sports, Youth and Activities programme, aimed at improving health and wellbeing outcomes for residents of all ages.

Cllr Gareth Lloyd, who represents Bigyn ward, said the new defibrillator was already being welcomed by local families.

“It’s a vital addition to the play area,” he said. “We’re proud to be making lifesaving equipment more accessible to the community.”

#aed #automatedExternalDefibrillator #bigyn #cllrGarethLloyd #cllrShaunGreaney #cpr #criticalBleedControl #criticalBleedControlKit #davidDarkin #defibrillatorDesert #defibrillators #llanelli #llanelliTownCouncil #lleidi #nightingaleCourt

Councillor saves man with CPR in Llanelli town centre

A Llanelli town councillor who has long campaigned for more public defibrillators has helped save a man’s life in the town centre.

Cllr Shaun Greaney, who represents the Lliedi ward, spotted a man lying motionless in Stepney Street in the early hours of Thursday morning.

“I feared the man was dying,” he said. “He was perfectly still, barely breathing, and unresponsive.”

Cllr Greaney dialled 999 and, guided by the call handler, began chest compressions. “Despite my nerves I remembered the importance of staying calm. The call handler was amazing, counting me through every compression.”

After several minutes, a First Responder arrived with a defibrillator. “I think he came in the nick of time,” said Cllr Greaney. “The ambulance service gets a lot of criticism but they were absolutely first rate, going into action swiftly and professionally.”

The man regained consciousness but declined to go to hospital. Police and ambulance crews later met him nearby.

Cllr Greaney said the incident underlined the need for more 24/7 defibrillators in busy areas. “It’s ironic that I couldn’t reach the nearest ones quickly enough, even though there are three close by — but only accessible in the day. For the sake of less than £2,000 each, more lives could be saved.”

He added: “The chap we treated was just lucky we were there. Anything could have happened.”

Related articles

• New defibrillator installed in Llanelli’s Bigyn ward
• Ystalyfera cardiac arrest survivor reunited with lifesaving neighbours
• Four hospitals to install public‑access defibrillators
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#ambulance #CllrShaunGreaney #CPR #defibrillators #FirstResponder #Llanelli #StepneyStreet

Ystalyfera cardiac arrest survivor reunited with lifesaving neighbours and ambulance crews

In March, Kealey Reilly was woken by a sound she first thought was snoring. Her husband Oliver, 38, was in fact experiencing agonal breathing — a sign of cardiac arrest.

Realising something was seriously wrong, Kealey dialled 999 while the couple’s 12‑year‑old daughter Florence ran next door to alert neighbours Hannah and Matthew Miers, both off‑duty police officers trained in CPR.

The couple took over chest compressions, assisted by another neighbour — a retired auxiliary nurse — while a public access defibrillator, installed just months earlier and located 120 metres away, was retrieved and used.

Welsh Ambulance Service paramedic Vikki Davies and emergency medical technicians Colin Read, Jamie Higgins and Gavin Treseder soon arrived, with advanced critical care support provided by the Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) in a Wales Air Ambulance charity helicopter.

Oliver was taken to Morriston Hospital by ambulance, supported by the EMRTS crew, and spent three weeks in an induced coma.

“I owe my life to Kealey, Florence, and our neighbours Hannah and Matthew,” said Oliver. “Kealey’s quick reaction, Florence’s bravery in seeking help, and the strength shown by Hannah and Matthew were extraordinary. You’ve allowed me to be here today for my children and for that I will be eternally grateful.”

The Welsh Ambulance Service has formally recognised Hannah and Matthew Miers with a Chief Executive’s Commendation for their actions.

Kealey said doctors had warned Oliver might never walk or talk again, but he had defied all expectations.

“We were extremely lucky; everything was in place for him to survive. Not many people can say they’ve saved someone’s life, let alone their neighbour’s. I’m extremely grateful to Hannah and Matthew — they absolutely deserve this recognition.”

Carl Powell, Clinical Lead for Acute Care at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said Oliver’s survival showed the importance of CPR and defibrillators.

“Your chances of surviving a cardiac arrest are significantly improved if there are people trained in CPR and a defibrillator is brought to the scene. I would urge everyone to learn CPR and sign up to the GoodSAM app in Wales to help create a nation of life savers.”

The Welsh Ambulance Service, Save a Life Cymru and the Resuscitation Council UK have partnered to provide tailored support for cardiac arrest survivors, their families and bystanders, including resources for young people and co‑survivors.

#ambulance #cardiacArrest #CPR #defibrillators #EMRTS #MorristonHospital #ResuscitationCouncilUK #SaveALifeCymru #WalesAirAmbulance #WelshAmbulanceServiceTrust #Ystalyfera

New defibrillator installed in Llanelli’s Bigyn ward to tackle cardiac arrest survival rates

A new defibrillator has been installed outside Glenalla Community Centre in Llanelli’s Bigyn ward, as part of a growing campaign to improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

Town councillor Shaun Greaney, who has personally part-funded two defibrillators in the town, said the latest unit was mounted on a post previously used for a community waste bin. “The council’s initiative to increase and improve defibrillators in our town will help combat the deadly disaster of what I think are appalling survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in Llanelli, which are similar to those across Wales – currently less than 5 per cent,” he said.

The rollout coincides with a major change in emergency response protocols across Wales. The Welsh Government has introduced a new ‘purple category’ for 999 calls involving suspected cardiac arrests, ensuring faster prioritisation for the most critical cases. Health Minister Jeremy Miles described the move as “decisive action to save more lives.”

Councillor Greaney, a member of the Save Our Services Prince Philip Action Network (SOSPPAN), said he welcomed the change. “It means those with cardiac arrests, who have the most urgent needs, are prioritised over people with less critical problems like breathing difficulties,” he said. “This helps ambulance teams reach people with the most urgent needs more quickly.”

Councillor Jan Williams said the new defibrillator at Glenalla Hall on Alban Road was “a vital aid in an emergency.” She added that it “makes the Bigyn area much safer and will give comfort for local residents.”

County and town councillor Phil Warlow said the device was “an item of First Aid should anyone in the area experience sudden cardiac arrest.” “Its purpose is to restore a normal heart rhythm,” he said. “The Town Council is working extremely hard to get all areas within the town covered by this extremely important lifesaving equipment.”

The defibrillator and its heated cabinet were donated by the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, with the location approved by the county council.

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#Bigyn #CllrShaunGreaney #defibrillators #GlenallaCommunityCentre #JanWilliams #Llanelli #LlanelliTownCouncil #PhilWarlow #SOSPAN #WelshAmbulanceServiceTrust

Four hospitals to install defibrillators that the public can use

Hywel Dda University Health Board have announced that members of the public now have access to four new defibrillators on each of its main hospital sites. 

These are at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen at the main entrance by the hospital sign, Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli by the bus stop at the entrance to the hospital, Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth by the pharmacy entrance and Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest at the roundabout on the main entrance.

The health board says this has been made possible by collaboration between the health board and Save a Life Cymru to install public access defibrillators for use in the community. 

It added that for every minute that CPR and defibrillation is not commenced the chance of survival decreases by 10%. Immediate CPR and early defibrillation can significantly increase survival.

Save a Life Cymru provided the four defibrillators at no cost to the health board. The defibrillators are housed in heated cabinets and will be checked regularly by volunteer ‘guardians’. Each public access defibrillator is registered with the National Defibrillator Network (The Circuit) and this means that should they be needed, the 999 ambulance call taker will be able to direct someone to them.  

The defibrillators are said to be really easy to use and offer voice prompts. In the event of a cardiac arrest, members of the public will need to call 999. They will be advised where the nearest defibrillator is located and to follow the instructions provided (visual, phone, defibrillator) while performing CPR and providing defibrillation. Never stop CPR, always send someone else to fetch the defibrillator for you.

Professor Len Nokes, Chair of Save a Life Cymru said: “We are delighted to have provided new public access defibrillators at four key locations on the Hywel Dda estate. This gives the surrounding communities and visitors to these sites 24/7 access to lifesaving defibrillators. We know that for every minute someone’s in cardiac arrest without receiving CPR and having a defibrillator used on them, their chance of survival decreases by 10%. 

“Marc Gower, our Save a Life Cymru’s Community Co-ordinator in west Wales, will be supporting the defibrillator guardians to make sure defibrillators continue to be registered on The Circuit so that their locations are made available to the Welsh Ambulance Service.  This will ensure that the 999 call takers can direct a bystander to a registered defibrillator and help save more lives.”

Dr Eiry Edmunds, Interim Deputy Medical Director for Acute for the health board said: “I am proud of our collaboration with Save a Life Cymru to ensure public access defibrillators are available at our hospital sites. This collaboration provides potentially lifesaving equipment for our communities.”

Mark Henwood, Executive Medical Director at the health board, said: “I am very pleased to hear that we are the second health board in Wales to engage with Save a Life Cymru to provide public access defibrillators. This will be a great development for the health of our communities and will save lives. I wish to personally thank Save a Life Cymru, all those individuals who have donated and also the volunteer guardians.”

#Aberystwyth #BronglaisHospital #Carmarthen #defibrillators #GlangwiliHospital #Haverfordwest #HywelDdaNHS #Llanelli #PrincePhilipHospital #SaveALifeCymru #WithybushHospital

A grant of £10,000 has been made to fund 100 of the kits that can make the difference between life or death for people who suffer catastrophic bleeding due to accidents such as road traffic collisions, workplace incidents, impalements, dog bites, knife crime and more.

They can provide immediate assistance before emergency services arrive and the aim is to place them within the cabinets that already house Swansea’s network of defibrillators.

This initiative is being led by the High Sheriff of West Glamorgan, Melanie James, and as well as the council, other organisations supporting the initiative include the charity Heartbeat Trust UK.

Swansea Council and the charity have worked together in recent years to make Swansea the UK’s first Defib-friendly City, significantly boosting the network of life-saving devices across the city and county.

Council Leader Rob Stewart said: “The synergy of the High Sheriff’s initiative of Critical Bleed Control Kits with Heartbeat’s extensive defibrillator provision within Swansea is commendable and effectively makes these units vital trauma centres.

“The council contributed significantly towards creating this network and I’m very proud we are now supporting this initiative with £10,000 to secure 100 of these kits which will save lives.”

A launch event was hosted recently by the Lord Mayor of Swansea, Paxton Hood-Williams, at the city’s Mansion House.

Melanie James said: “I would like to thank everyone who attended our recent event and shares in our vision to install ‘Critical Bleed Control’ (CBC) kits across West Glamorgan.

“I was keen to take advantage of the opportunities that arise in my High Sheriff year to make a fundamental difference to our community by providing a comprehensive public provision of these vital and life-saving CBC kits.”

Henry Gilbert, Chair of Heartbeat Trust UK, said: “Placing CBC kits in the network of defibrillator cabinets is such a simple exercise, but these kits, along with a training programme we are rolling out, will save lives across West Glamorgan”.

The CBC kits include essential military-grade equipment.

The drive is also being supported by the Wales Ambulance Services Trust, South Wales Police, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service and safety partnerships, many of whom were represented at the launch.

It included an informative presentation on how to use the CBC kits by St Johns Ambulance Cymru and short films detailing how the kits had been used to save lives.

(Lead image: Swansea Council)

https://swanseabaynews.com/2024/09/25/funds-backing-drive-for-life-saving-kits/

#CllrPaxtonHoodWilliams #CriticalBleedControl #defibrillators #HeartbeatTrustUK #HighSheriffOfWestGlamorgan #LordMayorOfSwansea #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil