Cardiac care will again be on Greater Manchester’s agenda when Trafford’s Mayor launches his chosen charity at this Saturday’s annual ‘Summertime Sounds’ event in Sale.
Conservative councillor Dylan Butt will be raising funds, with the help of community groups and organisations, to buy life-saving defibrillators as part of a Trafford-wide initiative.
With Sale Town Partnership training businesses to use two public access defibrillators, Cllr Butt hopes the commitment makes a difference to lives of Trafford’s residents.
“This charity fundraising comes from my wish to see more publicly accessible defibrillators across Trafford,” he said.
“The availability of defibrillators in town centres, public buildings and key ‘hot spots’ will make a significant impact.
“Together we can play our part to improve the health and wellbeing of local people and visitors to the borough.”
Public awareness of cardiac care intensified following last year’s on-pitch collapse of now retired Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba during an FA Cup quarter-final with Tottenham Hotspur.
Muamba suffered a cardiac arrest on the White Hart Lane pitch – his heart stopped for 78 minutes and defibrillators played a crucial role in saving his life.
The incident struck a chord with Cllr Butt, who feels it acted as a wakeup call and re-enforced the need for public defibrillators.
“We were all moved by the dramatic on-pitch life-saving activities when Fabrice Muamba’s heart stopped during a football match,” he explained.
“His survival was thanks to speedy medical treatment and access to a defibrillator. In Trafford, there have been incidents since then in which this equipment has saved lives.”
‘Summertime Sounds’ will see community dance and music groups in the town square from 11.25am, a local produce market on School Road and Sale’s businesses providing special offers.
The day’s theme will be ‘I love Sale’, climaxing with a boat parade along the Bridgewater Canal by the cruising club at 1.45pm.
North West Ambulance Service representatives will be on hand to teach residents about both CPR and defibrillators, with chain of survival county coordinator Sara Harris stressing the importance of both.
“Defibrillators are easy to use and you cannot really do any harm to a patient, as they will only deliver a shock if a patient’s heart is in a specific rhythm,” she said.
“AEDs deliver an electric pulse through the chest cavity to try and attempt to restore the hearts normal rhythm.
“For every minute that passes without defibrillation in the event of a cardiac arrest, 10% of the patients chance of survival decreases.
“Recognising a cardiac arrest early, dialling 999 and starting CPR and defibrillation can greatly improve a patient’s chance of survival.”
Any residents or businesses with defibrillators that could be made available for public usage should call Trafford Council on 0161 912 1231 or email [email protected]
Photo courtesy of lydia_shiningbrightly, via Flickr, with thanks.
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