The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) has introduced a new community defibrillator package aimed at saving lives across the region. The initiative is part of the charity’s broader “Life Support” campaign, designed to equip the public with the skills and confidence to respond effectively to cardiac emergencies.
Each year, DSAA attends to around 300 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) cases. Surviving such incidents largely depends on prompt interventions, known as the “chain of survival,” which include recognizing the emergency, calling for help, performing chest compressions (CPR), using a defibrillator, and providing post-resuscitative care. The introduction of more publicly accessible automated external defibrillators (AEDs) is a critical part of this life-saving chain.
The defibrillator package, which costs £1,750, is available for purchase by businesses, community groups, and organizations. It includes a long-term license for the device, access to a DSAA CPR and defibrillator awareness session, ongoing maintenance support, and fundraising assistance to cover the cost. The AEDs, supplied by The Heartbeat Trust UK, are designed to be installed on the exterior of community and workplace buildings, increasing accessibility in the event of a cardiac arrest.
Ollie Zorab, Specialist Practitioner in Critical Care at DSAA and Clinical Lead for Cardiac Arrest at South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, emphasized the importance of defibrillators in increasing survival rates. “Defibrillators are life-saving pieces of equipment that significantly increase a person’s chance of survival following a cardiac arrest,” said Zorab. “Each device is easy to use, with clear instructions, and can be operated by anyone in those crucial moments after a collapse.”
Zorab also highlighted the importance of early intervention: “We want anyone who suffers a cardiac arrest to receive immediate CPR and have access to a defibrillator. This ensures that vital treatment can begin while help from the ambulance service and DSAA’s critical care team is on the way.”
The defibrillators provided by DSAA will be registered on the British Heart Foundation’s national defibrillator database, “The Circuit.” In a medical emergency, 999 callers will be directed to the nearest AED by the ambulance service. The public can also locate AED units through the Defib Finder website.
For more information about the defibrillator package, visit DSAA’s website at www.dsairambulance.org.uk/defibrillator-package.
