A SURVIVOR of a cardiac arrest is urging more people to learn how to use a defibrillator to kick start a heart.

Steve Morris fell ill while using a treadmill at a gym and staff there saved his life.

The 62-year old does not remember what happened next but was told one person carried out CPR and the other used a defibrillator to successfully get his heart going again.

Mr Morris, from East Grinstead, was taken to hospital where he had surgery to repair his heart.

He has since gone on to make a full recovery from the incident almost two years ago and is now campaigning for more defibrillators to be

made available in public places.

He is backing first aid charity St John Ambulance’s drive to raise awareness about the machines and how simple they are to use.

Mr Morris said: “I’m here today because someone knew how to do CPR and use a defibrillator.

“It’s so important that people are aware of this life saving equipment and have the confidence to use it in an emergency.”

Up to seven out of ten people who suffer a cardiac arrest could survive if they are treated with a defibrillator inside the first five minutes.

However research by the charity shows half of people in Sussex and the south east have no idea where their nearest defibrillator is.

St John Ambulance has launched its Care for a Heart campaign which advises people to find out defibrillator locations, learn how to use one, get trained to carry out CPR and learn the signs of cardiac arrest.

It is being backed by renowned cardiologist Douglas Chamberlain from Hove.

He introduced the first paramedics in Europe and was instrumental in getting automated defibrillators widely available in the UK.

Professor Chamberlain said: “He said: “Despite defibrillators being more readily available than ever in our communities, people continue to be afraid to use them.

“It’s a very disappointing situation to be in, and that needs to change.”

St John Ambulance regional director Elizabeth Harper, said: “None of us want to find ourselves in a situation where we couldn’t save a loved one’s life, any more than we’d want them to stand by helpless if we suffered a cardiac arrest.

“That’s why we are urging everybody to learn the four simple steps of our campaign.”

Visit sja.org.uk/care.

The shocking statistic is revealed as the first aid charity warns that despite more than 30,000 people experiencing cardiac arrests every year in the UK3 we are lagging way behind countries all over the world when it comes to knowing how to treat them4.

The survey found:

• 56% of people in the region wouldn’t know what to do if faced with a cardiac arrest;

• while 80% know what a defibrillator does, only 28% say they’d feel confident using one (compared to 80 per cent of people saying they can use a smartphone with ease); and,

• An astonishing 62% wrongly believe it could cause harm to a patient.

With 80%5 of out of hospital cardiac arrests occurring at home,

St John Ambulance has launched its Care for a Heart campaign which advises people to find out where their closes defibrillator, learn how to use it and carry out CPR and spot the signs of cardiac arrest.

It is being backed by renowned cardiologist Douglas Chamberlain from Hove.

He introduced the first paramedics in Europe and was instrumental in getting automated defibrillators widely available in the UK.

Professor Chamberlain said: “He said: “Despite defibrillators being more readily available than ever in our communities, people continue to be afraid to use them.

“It’s a very disappointing situation to be in, and that needs to change.”

One Sussex resident who is on his own personal crusade to raise awareness of the importance of people knowing CPR and how to use a defibrillator is East Grinstead’s

St John Ambulance regional director Elizabeth Harper, said: “Our research shows that while most people have some awareness of defibrillators, we still have a long way to go in educating people about what they need to do in a cardiac emergency.

“None of us want to find ourselves in a situation where we couldn’t save a loved one’s life, any more than we’d want them to stand by helpless if we suffered a cardiac arrest.

“That’s why we are urging everybody to learn the four simple steps of our campaign.

“This will mean if the worst happens we can all act quickly and confidently, especially when every second counts.”?

St John Ambulance has made simple, fun, and shareable videos, to help you learn the C.A.R.E steps, visit www.sja.org.uk/care to watch and share.??

Campaign backed by leading cardiologist (Hove)

The campaign has the backing of Hove resident Professor Douglas Chamberlain CBE - the person responsible for revolutionising pre-hospital clinical care by introducing the first paramedics in Europe and the first use of automated defibrillators anywhere in the world.

He said: “Despite defibrillators being more readily available than ever in our communities, people continue to be afraid to use them. It’s a very disappointing situation to be in, and that needs to change.” – QUOTE being used in press release for Sussex

Campaign backed by Brighton A&E consultant (Brighton)

Dr Rob Galloway, Emergency Medicine Consultant BSUH NHS Trust, is also backing the campaign.

Man saved by gym defibrillator backs SJA campaign (East Grinstead)

Steve Morris, from East Grinstead, began his Survival Can Be Shocking campaign after his own life was saved by gym staff when he collapsed whilst exercising (in Feb 2015).

He was on the treadmill, and had increased the pace to complete a two minute sprint, when one minute in he began to fill very unwell. Steve doesn’t remember what happened next, but two members of staff at the gym, one of whom was a defibrillator trainer at the premises, performed CPR and gave him one shock with the gym’s Automated External Defibrillator, re-establishing Steve’s heartbeat.

Steve was taken to hospital where he underwent surgery to have two stents fitted. He’s now made a full recovery and is campaigning for more defibrillators to be made available in public places. He holds regular awareness sessions in Sussex, and hopes to complete first aid training to become a trainer himself.

“I’m backing St John Ambulance’s campaign, because, put simply, I’m here today because someone knew how to do CPR and use a defibrillator, which was on site. It’s so important that people are aware of this life saving equipment, and have the confidence to use it in an emergency.

“In my awareness sessions, I start by asking who would be happy to grab a defibrillator from its box and use it straight away. Nobody puts their hand up. By the end of the session I ask the same question, and I get the opposite response. Once people realise you can’t do any harm with a defibrillator, they feel a lot happier about using one. It’s a very simple piece of kit, but can have an incredible impact on someone’s life.”

Since 2004, the Henfield community has raised over £100,000 to fund their local community responder group, the Henfield Area Response Team (HART).

The money they have raised has had a huge impact on the local community. They have managed to pay for 41 automated external defibrillators (AEDs), 27 of them public access defibrillators (PADs), strategically placed in the village and surrounding area and one additional unit for the local Medical Centre. Additionally each unpaid Community Responder is provided with their own AED.

Combined, these units have already been used in over 10 cardiac arrest incidents and happily five patients survived to hospital discharge. The youngest survivor was just 22 years of age.

Volunteer David Fletcher said: “As a paramedic of 42 years I fully support the C.A.R.E. for a Heart campaign.

“I have seen far too many occasions when bystanders have witnessed sudden death but have been unaware of what to do. And yet it’s so simple! Early chest compressions and early defibrillation for sudden cardiac arrest are the two key components for saving a life.

“Chest compressions are easily learnt. Defibrillators are ultra-safe and no pre-training is required. You only need to know what they are and where they are. The machine does the rest and makes the decisions for you. Our charity has purchased over 40 defibrillators for our village of Henfield and surrounding area, the PADs (Public Access Defibrillators) being available for anyone to use.

“One life saved makes it all worthwhile…our village has done just that, many times over.”

“Sudden death should not solely a problem for the ambulance services. It is a community problem and Henfield has taken that on board!”