New defibrillator register

A pilot of a new Defibrillator Register commences in Westmeath from this week.Survival rates from cardiac arrest have improved from one to five per cent in recent years. Official figures show that in the midlands, during the last three years, 15 people whose hearts had stopped were later discharged from hospital because of early intervention, often by members of the public.However it is thought that a simple register of available defibrillators could further improve this survival rate.The idea is that all defibrillators in the midlands will be placed on a register which will be located at the National Ambulance Service (NAS) control centre.If a member of the public finds a person who has collapsed and phones 999 or 112 for an ambulance, the control centre will advice them of the nearest defibrillator in the case of a cardiac arrest.The defibrillator can then be used prior to the arrival of the ambulance which will provide the best possible outcome for the patient.The Defibrillator Register is a joint partnership initiative between the Pre Hospital Care Council (PHECC), Health Service Executive (HSE), Irish heart Foundation (IHF) and NAS.The midlands was selected as the pilot area as there is a defibrillator register already in place, which is managed by the NAS. The aim is to build on this register.If you have a defibrillator, community or privately owned, you should register it by logging on to www.phecc.ie/defib and completing the form or downloading the form, completing it and posting it to National Ambulance Service, Midland Division Headquarters, Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, County Offaly.See www.phecit.ie/defib, or call Gearoid Oman at 045 882087.