Public Access Defibrillator Scheme (PADS) at Ysgol Clywedog
Category : Events
The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust (WAST) works in partnership with other organisations including the Welsh Government, British Heart Foundation, Cariad, Welsh Hearts and Achub Calon Y Dyffryn to provide equipment and training under the Public Access Defibrillator Scheme (PADS).
PADS Support Officer Tomos Hughes, based in North Wales, delivered the new AED to Ysgol Clywedog on Thursday. This now means there is one based in the leisure centre reception as well as the main school reception.
What is PADS?
A Public Access Defibrillation Scheme is any location that has an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) available for use by members of the public and/or staff in the event of a Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA).
Why do we need PAD schemes?
The Government’s White Paper entitled ‘Saving Lives – Our Healthier Nation’ focused on having people trained in public places that could use a defibrillator.
There are around 120,000 victims of out of hospital sudden cardiac arrests annually in the UK with around 8,000 in Wales.
What is Sudden Cardiac Arrest?
A cardiac arrest occurs when the heart stops beating effectively and normal breathing ceases. This results in the casualty becoming unresponsive and urgent intervention is required. The chances of survival are greatly increased when an AED is applied.
What is an AED?
Automated External Defibrillators are devices that can deliver an electric shock to a casualty in a cardiac arrest. These devices are simple and safe to use. Training is recommended but is not essential.
Take a look at the training video here.
Where are AEDs located?
AEDs have been placed at locations across Wales usually where there are large visitor numbers and busy areas. The Welsh Ambulance Service has concentrated on locations such as airports, shopping centres, railway stations, leisure centres and ferry ports. There are many other AED locations that have been provided by other organisations and communities across Wales and new schemes continue to be developed.
Find Defibrillator locations across Wales here Defib Locations search.
