A BUDE man is trying to raise awareness and funds for a new automatic external defibrillator to be installed in the area.

Dave Cross is fundraising to install a new automatic external defibrillator (AED) in the Sandymouth, Stibb and Cleeve area in Bude, after he was asked to try and save his neighbour’s life recently, after he suffered a cardiac arrest. With three ambulances, an air ambulance and Dave’s assistance, the gentleman, unfortunately, could not be saved.

This event triggered something in Dave, who was determined to get people in Bude on board to raise money for a new AED in another area in the town.

An automatic external defibrillator is a heart starter, which sends an electric shock across the heart in an attempt to restore a normal rhythm in the event of a heart attack or cardiac arrest.

According to the Cornish charity, FLEET (Front Line Emergency Equipment Trust), set up by ambulance staff in 1990, a sudden cardiac arrest or heart attack ‘kills more people than lung and breast cancer combined’, and can happen to anyone, at any time.

Just five in 100 victims will survive, and the most effective treatment is defibrillation, which needs to occur swiftly after a heart attack. Research has shown that if a victim can be assisted by an AED within three minutes of the attack, 70 in 100 victims will survive — an extra 65 people who could be saved.

An AED is a small device that can be used without training, and can be made available in public places, if funding can be found. Cornwall is already home to many, but most are located inside shops, colleges, libraries, golf clubs and sports centres, which can only be accessed if the said venues are open.

More recently, community public access defibrillators (cPAD) have been placed across Cornwall. These are secured through key code locks with ambulance control providing the code when a 999 call is made.

The latest innovation is an automated cPAD, which has power and a secure connection over the internet to enable the defibrillator to be continuously monitored, the temperature maintained, and ambulance control to remotely unlock the device when needed, without the need for key codes.

When the 999 call is received, ambulance control can confidently direct the caller to the nearest cPAD. As soon as the cPAD is opened, alerts are sent to nominated locals, who can help the victim and ensure the defibrillator is maintained so it is ready for future use, should it be needed.

In Dave’s case, he was unaware of AED or cPADs in the area, or if there was one close to him, when he performed CPR on his neighbour for approximately 25-minutes.

Dave recently attended the ‘final do’ for his neighbour at Rosie’s Kitchen, Bude, where he was able to meet the gentleman’s friends and relatives.

This incident has pushed Dave to not only find funds for a new community defibrillator, but also take part in a course to become a ‘community first responder’.

Dave’s target is to raise £1,100 for a new AED. So far he has reached just over £200, with some time left to go.

There are various AED and cPAD locations in and around Bude. These include the Marhamchurch telephone box; the Esso petrol station in Bude; Lansdown Dairy in Bude; Bude Golf Club; Hebasca Hotel, Bude; Lords Court Store, Stratton; Preston Gate Inn, Poughill; Morrisons, Bude, and the Parkhouse Centre, Bude.

For further information about defibrillator locations, visit www.heartsafe.org.uk/AED-Locations.

To find out more about how to get involved, whether it is fundraising, supporting the charity or interest in purchasing a community defibrillator, call FLEET chairman, Norman Trebilcock, on 07977 445312 or visit fleet.org.uk