A defibrillator in your workplace could save a life if someone has a cardiac arrest.
Call 999 immediately and start CPR if someone is in cardiac arrest. If alone, do no stop CPR to find a defibrillator. When calling 999 they will be able to see whether there is a public access defibrillator nearby, if there is, send someone to recive it.
What is a Defibrillator?
A defibrillator is a device that gives a high energy shock to the heart of someone who is in cardiac arrest. Find out how to use one, where to buy one, what funding opportunities we have and more.
How to use a Defibrillator
If someone is in cardiac arrest, call 999 and start CPR. If you’re on your own, do not interrupt CPR to go and find a defibrillator. If it’s possible, send someone else to find one. When you call 999, the operator can tell you if there’s a public access defibrillator nearby.
Anyone can use a defibrillator. There is no training necessary as once it is turned on, it will give clear step-by-step voice instructions. Some defibrillators have images showing how to use it.
The defribrillator checks the person’s heart rhythm and will only say to give them a shock if it’s needed. It is not possible to shock anyone accidentally.
Steps to using a defibrillator
- Press the green button to switch the defibrillator on and follow the instructions.
- Remove the all clothing above the person’s waist.
(A person’s bra might need to be removed by slipping the straps down or cutting it off. Most defibrillator packs have tools like scissors to help do this. This is a life-or-death situation so don’t be embarassed). - Peel off the sticky pads and attach them to the person’s bare skin. Put one pad on each side of the chest.
- Once the pads are attached, stop CPR. Do not touch the person. The defibrillator will then check the person’s heart rhythm.
- The defibrillator will decide whether a shock is needed. If needed depending on the defibrillator, it will either say to press the ‘shock’ button. Or an automatic defibrillator will shock the person without needing to do anything.
Do not touch the person while they’re being shocked. - The defibrillator will say when the shock has been given and whether CPR needs to be continued.
- If the defibrillator says to continue to do CPR, continue with chest compressions until the person shows signs of life, or the defibrillator says to stop so it can analyse the heartbeat again.
Raising Money
For our 2023 Christmas Raffle Metro Rod decided to raise money for something that we thought would enrich the community – a defibrillator. Having a defibrillator is something that our director, Ben, has always wanted.
Having a defibrillator in the community can save a life. By having it accesable to the public, Metro Rod are hoping to lower the number of people who die during a cardiac arrest in the area. Anyone can have a cardiac arrest, so we made sure we got a defibrillator which has the option to change it from adult mode to child mode.
Metro Rod’s employees and friends of the company raised £550 for the defibrillator with our raffle. The rest of the £600 was made up by our Director, Ben Witcomb, as he believes that everyone should have access to a local defibrillator.
A community defibrillator is not just about a defibrillator but so much more as it builds a community. By including community training, emergency planning, and emergency communications we can promote a community and give them what they need to survive a cardiac arrest.
Although Metro Rod have first aiders, we are planning to have our members of staff do Defibrillator & CPR First Aid Training Course to gain more knowledge.
Once the defibrillator has been used, we will ensure that the batteries and anything that is used is replaced ASAP, ready for another emergency.
Ben, our director, performs weekly visual checks on the device. This is because the batteries and pads have a shelf and/or stand-by life (ours is 2025) so this needs to be monitored and replacements made when required.
Talk to your local Metro Rod specialist
We are always happy to arrange a free site assessment and no obligation quotations for any work you might need. Alternatively, you can call our emergency hotline number on 0800 66 88 00
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