Defibrillator Training

Speldhurst Parish Council organised free defibrillator training for Councillors, staff and members of the public on Wednesday 6th May at The Pavilion.  Ken Hopkins from Hopkins Training and Support led the session which was very well received by all that attended.  We hope to be able to hold further sessions later in the year and will promote these via social media so look out for that if you are interested in attending.  Places will be limited and offered on a first come first served basis.

The main benefit of using a defibrillator is to significantly increase the chance of survival during a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). While CPR helps circulate oxygenated blood to the brain and vital organs, only a defibrillator can deliver a shock to a heart in a shockable rhythm, allowing the heart’s normal electrical activity to restart.   Modern defibrillators (AEDs) are designed to be used safely by members of the public and will only deliver a shock if one is needed, and often depending on the model, will talk you through what to do.

Key Life-Saving Benefits:

• Significant Survival Improvement: When defibrillation is delivered within the first 3–5 minutes, survival rates can exceed 70% in some witnessed cardiac arrests.

• Brain Protection: Early CPR and defibrillation help restore circulation quickly, reducing the risk of prolonged oxygen deprivation, brain injury, and long-term disability.

• Every Minute Counts: For every minute defibrillation is delayed, the chance of survival decreases by around 10%.

• Critical Early Intervention: Ambulance response times can often exceed 8–10 minutes, meaning publicly accessible AEDs and trained bystanders play a vital role during the first critical minutes of a cardiac arrest.