Two members of staff at DW Fitness Club in Wrexham used their first-aid training and quick reactions to help save a man’s life as he suffered from a heart attack while he was swimming in the club’s pool.
The employees, Laura Cartwright and Jacky Jones, sprang into action when they received a code red informing them that a gym member was in trouble in the pool. They immediately rushed to the scene to find that the man was not breathing and without a pulse.
Staff acted quickly by performing first aid on the victim, including CPR, chest compressions and mouth-to-mouth breathing with no effect. They deployed a defibrillator, which they used along with further CPR. After this, the man began to breathe again. By the time the ambulance appeared, he was semi-conscious and was taken straight to hospital.
Acting with speed is crucial when someone is suffering from a cardiac arrest; every minute that passes decreases the person’s chance of survival by 10%. However, if defibrillation is delivered quickly, survival rates can be as high as 75%.
Another DW member praised the staff for their excellent reactions. He sent the staff an email, commending Laura in particular, on her rapid response and taking charge of the scene.
As part of their commitment to safety, DW Fitness Clubs had invested in over 70 Lifeline Automated External Defibrillators. According to Market Medical, since the equipment’s addition, DW Fitness Clubs has helped to save 30 lives.
DW has also made sure that all staff in management roles hold ‘first-aid at work’ qualifications, as well as separate defibrillator training. They hold bi-monthly training across every gym, including defibrillation training.
Defibrillators are safe to use and as the equipment detects the heart’s rhythm, it won’t deliver a shock unless one is needed. At each DW Fitness Club, the AEDs have been fitted in central areas, following a detailed assessment to identify which locations in the club are the busiest.
Mark Cumberbatch, a representative of DW Fitness Clubs, commented on the club’s use of defibrillators: “Incidents like this highlight how important is it to have at least one defibrillator on site. A sudden cardiac arrest can strike at any time and then it is up to the quick reactions of staff to save a life. We are very proud of Laura, Jacky and all of the other members of the DW team who acted so quickly.”
[…] Quick reactions from fitness club staff help save man's life Two members of staff at DW Fitness Club in Wrexham used their first-aid training and quick reactions to help save a man's life as he suffered from a heart attack while he was swimming in the club's pool. The employees, Laura Cartwright and Jacky Jones, … Read more on SHPonline […]