Defibrillator training and lifesaving skills event in Delph
Garth Harkness (left) and Mayor of Oldham, Derek Heffernan
Reporter: Stuart Littleford
A couple of years ago Liberal Democrats Garth Harkness, Derek Heffernan and Alan Roughley launched a campaign to get a defibrillator in every village.
Following on from this there will now be a defibrillator and lifesaving training course taking place on Wednesday 7 December 2016 at 6.30pm at Delph Methodist Church with all members of the public welcome.
Councillor Garth Harkness told Saddleworth News: “A few years ago when Alan, Derek and I began to work for a defibrillator for every village we thought we would get some support from the ambulance service and many organisations but the response has been incredible. We now have some very good coverage of defibrillators for Saddleworth.”
Training has already taken place at Austerlands Cricket club through the Scouthead and Austerlands Community Group. The Ambulance service have agreed to offer further training to showcase the use of the defibrillators and showcase basic lifesaving skills. There are over 30,000 cases of outside hospital cardiac arrests every year in the UK and a less than 10% survival rate.
Saddleworth North Councillor and current mayor of Oldham, Derek Heffernan said: “In a cardiac arrest every minute counts. There are a number of yellow boxes across Saddleworth with defibrillators, checked by dedicated volunteers. A code can be obtained when calling 999 if someone is in cardiac arrest. The sooner intervention takes place the more chance of survival. In some of our rural communities it is vital we work together. The more people in the community who have had basic lifesaving training the better our chances.”
The ambulance service will be holding a training session on 7 December 2016 at 6.30pm at Delph Methodist Church to showcase the use of a defibrillator and provide basic life saving skills.
Councillor Garth Harkness said: “I hope we get a good turnout of people to come to Delph and get some basic training and help raise awareness of how to save someone’s life.”
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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