CPR Training Evening

On Wednesday 24th June 2009, Mark Weedon and helpers trained a good turnout of villagers in the basic but live-saving skills of emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Paramedic Susie showed us how – after calling for an ambulance – we could recognise the need for CPR, remove breathing blockages and keep oxygen flowing through the patient using chest compression in the vital minutes before help arrives. Susie answered many questions from the potential life-savers about what can and can't be done, and then she, Mark and newly-trained responder Steve gave each person an individual training session.

I first learnt CPR some forty years ago, and things have moved on considerably since, with much more emphasis on the compression and less on the mouth-to-mouth breathing. I for one feel much better equipped, should I ever be in the position to need these skills.

If you missed this event, Mark and the team are repeating it on Tuesday 30th June in Granborough Village Hall at 7pm. I can thoroughly recommend it. Let Mark know if you are thinking of coming to one of these evenings: phone him on
01296 768069, or email him.

Community First Responders

How long does it take an ambulance to reach North Marston? And what would you do in the meantime? Sudden cardiac arrest is Britain's biggest killer, and every minute that passes after an attack reduces the chance of successful resuscitation by 10%.

There is a Community First Responder scheme working in North Marston. Volunteers are trained and equiped by the ambulance service to answer certain types of medical emergency while the ambulance is on its way.

Mark Weedon, our Responder (8 Marks Orchard, Granborough) is our local volunteer. When the ambulance service receive a 999 call from North Marston, they will alert Mark if appropriate and he will go immediately to the incident. He is quite likely to arrive first and save vital minutes.

Read more about Community First Responders on the South Central Ambulance service website.