In the UK, a sobering statistic reminds us that approximately 460 individuals lose their lives to circulatory diseases every day, translating to one tragic death every three minutes. The importance of this information cannot be emphasised enough. However, the simple knowledge of First Aid and CPR presents a remarkable opportunity – it can increase a heart attack victim’s chance of survival by a staggering 80% when administered promptly. These are not just skills; they are lifesaving tools that can make the difference between life and death for anyone in need, be it a loved one or a stranger on the street.

But how do you go about performing CPR when it becomes a critical necessity? In such a situation, calling 999 and initiating CPR immediately is paramount. On our First Aid Training courses we teach CPR in-depth and how to use a defibrillator. But for now, we have included the steps to act immediately when faced with an emergency.

1. Gently shake the shoulders
2. Gently tip the head back and lift the chin to open the airway.
3. Look, listen and feel for normal breathing.
4. Arms straight and shoulders above your hands, depress the chest 5-6cm.
5. Pinch the nose and seal your mouth around the casualty’s mouth.
6. Blow just enough air to make the chest rise.

 

The Restart a Heart Project:

The Ajuda Foundation has created ‘The Restart a Heart Project’ which launched last year in the Fairwater Community of Cardiff. This initiative aimed to provide CPR and Defibrillator (AED) workshops and training that will benefit not only Fairwater’s residents but also those in the surrounding areas. We have taught over 1000 children with our free CPR sessions which have been funded by generous donations that we’ve received from individuals and local businesses.

The Restart a Heart Project is the brainchild of The Ajuda Foundation and its dedicated volunteers. Funding for this project primarily comes from The David Hill Memorial Fund.

The David Hill Memorial Fund was established by David’s family as a heartfelt response to the tragic loss of Dave, fondly known as ‘Hilly, who unexpectedly suffered cardiac arrest on July 18^th, 2022. Hilly, a native of Grangetown, Cardiff, later made Fairwater his home alongside his wife, Deb’s.

A devoted farther to sons Rhys and Nathan, as well as stepchildren Stacy, Amy, Cameron, Jack, and Connor. Dave also cherished his role as a loving grandparent to five grandchildren – Jacob, Madison, Kaitlyn, Scarlett, and Reuben. Dave’s professional journey as a lifeguard equipped him with CPR and Defibrillator training, making him well-prepared to save lives.

Hilly was a beloved figure among all who crossed his path, a respected member of the local community, and someone who always went the extra mile to assist others. Now, we endeavour to perpetuate his legacy through the Restart a Heart Project, which will impact CPR and AED skills to both children and adults.

 

Utilisation of Funds:

The objective of this project was to create legion of “Hilly’s Heroes” and educate them in vital CPR techniques and the safe utilisation of AEDs. The legacy project started with aspirations to enhance the safety of Fairwater’s residents, and now with additional funding, we are fully committed to extending its reach to raise awareness about early CPR and AED use throughout Cardiff and its neighbouring regions.

As we observe Restart a Heart Day, we are reminded of the incredible potential that knowledge holds and its capacity to transform our communities. The David Hill Memorial Fund and the Restart a Heart Project states how even in tragedy, hope can be kindled, and loss can become an opportunity to save lives.

By arming ourselves with the knowledge of CPR and defibrillator usage, we can all become heroes, much like Hilly. We possess the power to enhance the safety of our neighbourhoods, strengthen our communities, and make our world a better place. Let us honour his memory committing to equip ourselves with these life-saving skills. Together, we can bring about positive change, one heartbeat at a time.

 

Choose your preferred date and book yourself onto a CPR / First Aid course here!

For more information on our First Aid courses contact us on:

 02920 576883 or email admin@ajuda.org.uk

 

 

 

 

 

 

After an intense few months of revising and worrying for many young people undertaking GCSE and A-Level exams, the results of their hard work will be revealed over the next few weeks, with A-level results this year taking place on 17th August, and GCSE’s on the 24th. 

Although some may say that the hardest part is over, for many young people the days leading to results day will be full of anxiety, stress and doubt.  If you have a child, or care for someone who is dealing with the pressure of a doubtful exam results day, here are some positive steps you can take, and bits of advice to give them before and during the day. 

Discourage overuse of social media

In the lead-up to the day, and particularly the day itself, their social media feeds will be full of people posting about the upcoming results. Although some posts may help them see that others are in the same boat, the continuous reminder of these emotions may cause the young person to overthink things and cause further worry and panic. If they do not get the results they were hoping for, social media will be full of celebratory posts which could make them feel even worse. 

Suggesting some calming activities that could distract them such as a walk, or watching a favourite film.

Remind them that exam results aren’t everything

Although it may feel like the most important thing at the moment, there are so many qualities and skills in a person that can’t be measured by school exams. Remind them of the good qualities they have that make them special, and reassure them that no matter what results they have, you will be proud of their hard work and support them moving forward in life. 

Look to the future 

It’s important to remind the young person that even if they do not get the results they wanted or expected, there are always alternative routes to gain the life skills, qualifications and work experience they need to go forward in life. If they are in the right mindset, you could help them look for their next step – whether that be further learning through school, apprenticeship, college or university. 

Helping them look forward to the future will help to keep their spirits up, and may relieve some feelings of worry and anxiety. 

On our Youth Mental Health First Aid course, Ajuda cover topics including stress and anxiety, with lots of practical tips on ways of dealing with these with young people in your care. Our courses can be booked in-house at our Cardiff Bay Training Centre, or at a location of your choice for groups of 12 or more. We also run this course Virtually.   Ajuda are also busy organising our upcoming Mental Health and Wellbeing Wales Awards on October 2nd 2023 and then the Mental Health and Wellbeing Show in 2024 on May 9th at Cardiff City Hall.  We have talks on both show days about mental illnesses such as anxiety, bipolar, depression and more, along with a selection of mental health organisations, charities and services at our exhibition. 

You can order tickets for the conference here.

Around 30,000 people in Britain every year suffer a sudden cardiac arrest in the community and around 8,000 people suffer in Wales from the same reason. They can affect anyone at any time – from young children at school, to adults when they are at work or at home. In that case it seems to be important to know what a defibrillator is, how to use it and where to find it – isn’t it?

What does #defibruary actually stands for?

The combination of words defibrillator and February aims to create an action which will increase the awareness of defibrillators importance. The Welsh Ambulance Service dedicated the whole month for educating people how to use those lifesaving devices to decrease the negative effects of cardiac arrests. The victim’s chances for survival are close to 90% if defibrillator is used within the first minute of collapse. For every minute that defibrillation is delayed, survival decreases by 7% to 10%. Delay for over 10 minutes decreases the chance of survival in adults to less than 5 percent. The greater knowledge about defibrillators the greater chances to save lives!

Defibrillators – all you need to know

Defibrillator called also AED – automated external defibrillator is a portable lifesaving device used to administer an electric shock to the heart and restore the heart’s normal rhythm during sudden cardiac arrest. If the heart can be shocked quickly with an AED, a normal heart rhythm may be restored. Due to being portable, automated and easy to use defibrillators can be used in public places and at home.

How to use them?

Although not all defibrillators look the same, they function broadly in the same way. The most important thing you can do if you come across the unconscious and unresponsive person is to call 999 and start CPR to keep the blood flowing in the organism. Every minute without CPR and defibrillation after experiencing a heart attack reduces someone’s chance of survival by 10%. If you do have a defibrillator these are a few steps that you need to follow:

1. Turn the defibrillator on with the green button and follow its instructions.
2. Peel off the sticky pads and attach them to the patient’s skin as it’s shown in the picture on the defibrillator (one on each side of the chest).
3. Once you attach the pads, stop CPR and don’t touch the patient.
4. The defibrillator will analyse the patient’s heartbeat and assess whether a shock is needed and if so, it will tell you to press the shock button (an automatic defibrillator will shock the patient without prompt).
5. The defibrillator will tell you when the shock has been delivered and whether you need to continue CPR.
6. If so, continue with CPR procedure until the patient shows signs of life or the defibrillator tells you to stop so it can analyse the heartbeat again, or until the ambulance arrives.

Locate your nearest AED

Make sure that you know where the nearest defibrillator in your area is. The AED location map can be found at http://www.heartsafe.org.uk/aed-locations. It has developed over 12 years to assist people living in communities to know in advance where their local public defibrillator may be positioned in case of emergency. These are places in Cardiff where you can find AEDs:

Importance of AED in your workplace

Every workplace has to invest in certain items to protect its staff members and keep them safe from harm. These include first aid kits, fire blankets and fire distinguishers. However, AED is often left off the list and so we have to make sure that this lifesaving device is located in our workplace. Survival rates of sudden cardiac arrests are very low – without immediate treatment, a massive 90 to 95% of SCA victims will not survive. For optimum survival rates, a person suffering from an SCA needs a shock from a defibrillator.

A shocking 13% of workplace fatalities are due to someone suffering from SCA, which just shows how important it is to have a defibrillator in the workplace. Business owners and HR managers need to understand the risks. When it comes to SCAs, the severity of the potential risk is incredibly high. For the cost of a new computer or a round of drinks at the office party, you could purchase a device that can, quite literally, be the difference between life and death.

Apart from having the AED at your workplace, managers should also prepare their workers for various situations by giving them specific first aid trainings. Our company can help you deliver them to both your workplace and individually. Check out our classroom and online training courses at https://www.ajuda.org.uk/ and make sure your workers can feel safe at the workplace!

JOIN #defibruary

This campaign exists to raise awareness of the impact of using a defibrillator. It also encourages the public to sign up to free first aid training classes and to raise money and fundraise to place more defibrillators within the community. At https://www.thewave.co.uk/news/local/welsh-ambulance-live-saving-campaign/ you can find all the additional information about the action and some materials to share. We encourage you to be the part of it and help us spread awareness!

Be the one who makes a change!