On the 23rd April, we visited Callum Walker (Director at WR Surveying) who applied to receive a donated defibrillator after the loss of his late father who sadly passed away in January 2023 after suffering a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) at his family home.
(Above: Callum receiving our donated defibrillator)
Since that day, Callum knew he wanted to help raise awareness of SCA and the importance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). This would start by Callum helping to increase publicly accessible defibrillators within local communities around where he lives in Derbyshire.
Time is essential during SCA
Every second counts when someone suffers a SCA, making timing a crucial factor in the chain of survival. For every minute that passes without treatment, the chance of survival decreases by 10%
Administering CPR promptly is vital to sustaining blood circulation and oxygenation to the body's organs, particularly the brain. This underscores the critical importance of bystander CPR in increasing the likelihood of survival until professional help arrives.
Callum also wants to educate in the difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest, as before his father’s incident he himself did not know the two are not the same and will often be mistaken for one another.
Do you know the difference?
A heart attack is a plumbing issue. A blockage in the arteries stops blood flow to the heart and the person suffering the heart attack is conscious, but suffering with severe pain.
A SCA is an electrical issue. The heart’s electrical system malfunctions and blood is no longer pumped around the body to the vital organs and the brain, causing instant unconsciousness. SCA requires quick, effective treatment of CPR and the use of a defibrillator. Without this vital treatment, the chance of survival decreases by 10% per minute.
The donated defibrillator is now on the circuit as well as GoodSAM, and is publicly accessible in an outdoor locked cabinet at Mickleover Memorial Hall; a place that has a large footfall daily. Callum expressed his delight in starting the process of adding publicly accessible defibrillators in and around his community. This will help give members of the public the best possible chance of survival during a sudden cardiac arrest emergency.
Callum explained that this was "the first of many" defibrillators he would fund and raise money for, stating he would not stop at just one
We are delighted to support Callum going forwards with all his defibrillator supplies and knowledge needs.
If you would like to be in with a chance to receive a defibrillator for your local charity/community, please contact us today
