The importance of having public access defibrillators in remote locations was highlighted in a recent incident in Cornwall, where a quick-thinking volunteer dad saved the life of a 14-year-old boy who had collapsed while mountain biking.
The importance of having public access defibrillators in remote locations was highlighted in a recent incident in Cornwall, where a quick-thinking volunteer dad saved the life of a 14-year-old boy who had collapsed while mountain biking. Oscar Dawe, who had a previously undiagnosed heart condition, was only alive and at home with his family today thanks to the actions of Mike Trebilcock, co-founder of Defib Ready.
Mike Trebilcock, who regularly rides with the local mountain biking club, knew that there was a defibrillator in the village through his work with the Cornish charity FLEET. Mike supported the Minions community to fundraise for the defibrillator used by offering training on the value of community AEDs and how to use them properly.
With the assistance of the present parents, Mike started CPR and used the defibrillator to restart Oscar's heart following a sudden cardiac arrest. This kept him alive until emergency responders arrived to transport him to Derriford Hospital.
The incident took place at a rural location in Cornwall. Thankfully, a community-funded AED was just 300 metres away. "We were so lucky that it happened where it did," said Mike. "We started CPR immediately, the defibrillator was close by. In the dark, wind and rain, somehow everything just came together that night for Oscar."
Oscar has recovered and is back home with his family after heart surgery. His bike club has been out on the trails since the dramatic evening, with Oscar often enjoying a live stream from the group on the move.
Mike is a the founder of Defib Ready. Defib Ready is a monitoring solution that enables defibrillators to be quickly recovered and made ready for the next rescue. Currently, the service is undergoing a nationwide pilot of its GPS tracking add-on to support recovery efforts. The goal, to help make sure everybody is within 3 minutes of a serviceable, emergency-ready defibrillator.
"When somebody's heart stops working effectively, you only have one chance to get them back," said Mike. "We need to make sure that every defibrillator is ready to go for that rescue. That’s why we’re building Defib Ready to help simplify guardianship."
This incident is a powerful reminder of the importance of having public access defibrillators in remote locations, and the vital role that community volunteers play in ensuring that they are always Defib Ready.
We encourage you to read the full article on the EPIC project website to fully understand why.
