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Medical

single year. The shocking The British Heart Foundation

results showed that out of estimates that in the UK alone, 60,000
1,035 calls, the caller could heart attacks occur out of hospital said

access a defibrillator in just every year and research has shown that the
44 cases.
when somebody is having a heart attack message

leading to unconsciousness, every about the
The report states:

minute of delay in resuscitation and
importance of
“Despite several campaigns
defibrillators was
to raise public awareness and
defibrillation reduces their chance of

now getting across
make PADs (public access survival by 10%.
to ship owners,
defibrillation) more available,
“In some cases the patient is just

particularly since the introduction of many public areas have no
not going to survive but your chances
MLC 2006 which requires employers to recorded AED available, and
are significantly increased if you get a

give seafarers better access to medical in those where an AED was
defib within the first three minutes,”
care and equipment.
available it was only used in a said Laura O’Hara-Lee, Sales

minority of cases by members
Director at The Medical Warehouse, Indeed, even before the Convention
of the public before arrival of the a UK-based company which supplies came into force last August, Germany

ambulance. Overall, a PAD was only medical bags and kits to the maritime became the first flag state worldwide to
deployed successfully in 1.74% out-of- industry.
legally require seagoing merchant

hospital (OOH) cardiac arrests. This vessels to carry AEDs by September “It is basic life support. Along with

weak link in the chain of survival 2012. However, it is still up to each flag being taught CPR (Cardiopulmonary
contributes to the poor survival rate from state to decide on whether an AED is resuscitation) it is super important,”

OOH cardiac arrest and needs
required onboard.
she said.
strengthening.”
This was echoed by The reason many have dragged

John Macdonald,
their heels, according to Mrs O’Hara-
Lee, is not just the expense but people General

are worried about not using them Manager at
correctly. There is also often no Hull-based

formal training.
Hutton’s
Medical: “If However, she said they were very

you can get to simple to use: “The only way you can

somebody
hurt someone is by hitting them over
the head with one because it self-checks. within 10

It will check the patient and, if a shock minutes with a
is advised, it will tell you,” she said.
defibrillator, there

is a 75% chance of “There’s no reason why any lay
survival.”
person shouldn’t be able to use them.

They are super easy.”
Mrs
O’Hara-Lee
In fact, a 2011 study carried out

2014 Issue 61 The SHIP Supplier 33