Speaker Hamish Tait - Defibrillators

Retired GP Hamish Tait gave a talk to St Andrews Kilrymont Rotarians on the Heartstart charity.  The charity, which provides public defibrillators, first started in 1987 with the aim of providing basic first aid life support training for members of the public.  It then went on to raise money for defibrillators for ambulances and St Andrews  became the pilot area for the devices in the emergency vehicles.  Now Heartstart provides defibrillators as an item of first aid for use by anyone. There are fourteen in St Andrews and many others in surrounding villages.  Each installation costs between £1600 to £2000.

Hamish said that CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation) techniques can be life-savers.  Compressing the chest by 5-6cm at a rate of 100 pushes per minute can be vital before the arrival of paramedics.  In addition, using the defibrillator can shock a non-beating heart back into its normal rhythm.

Using a mannequin, Hamish gave a demonstration. He said anyone coming across a collapsed person should first check for any danger to the patient and themselves, then check for a response from the person.  If there is no breathing, call for help and get someone to phone 999 and obtain a defibrillator if possible.

Meanwhile, carry out CPR after lifting the patient's head up and tilting it back. If there is a defibrillator, follow the straightforward instructions and apply the electric shock to get the heart started before the arrival of the emergency teams.

There are public use defibrillators in St Andrews at the following locations - Church Square, Old Burgh School, Bruce Embankment, New Golf Club, East Sands, Kinburn Park, Fire Station, Harbour, Craigtoun Park, University Sports Centre Pavilion on Hepburn Gardens, Cairnsmill Caravan Park, St Leonard's School health centre at Birdcage walled garden, Buchanan building facing North Street and Kinnessburn Bowling Club.

There are also devices in Balmullo, Cameron, Denhead, Guardbridge, Leuchars, Peat Inn, Strathkinness, Kemback, Newport and Blebocraigs.

The Links Trust also have defibrillators which are for use by trained links personnel.

After Hamish's demonstration, several Rotarians attempted to copy the resuscitation techniques.

George McIntosh proposed thanks.