Above: Members of the Bloomfield Team receiving their AED training certs.

According to the HSE, around 5,000 people die of sudden cardiac arrest each year in Ireland, the majority of which occur outside of hospitals. For every minute that passes, the victim’s chance of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest drop by between seven and ten per cent. However, if you can access a defibrillator nearby you may be able to save a life.

“Survival rates following a cardiac arrest at any age are directly related to time to resuscitation and particularly defibrillation. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs) have been proven to be of extreme benefit in increasing the chances of survival from sudden cardiac arrest,” the HSE notes on its website. “AEDs strategically placed throughout the community and in priority facilities, such as GP practices, sports clubs, airports and shopping centres, along with people trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and AED use can greatly increase the time to response to a sudden collapse.”

Westmeath’s Bloomfield House Hotel, Leisure Club and Spa is among the latest businesses to install a defibrillator on its premises. Staff members have been trained on the equipment’s use, providing victims of cardiac arrests with a greater chance of survival while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.

“We have taken action into ensuring the safety of our employees and guests by installing a defibrillator within our premises. Considering our location, ambulance response times and although we are only a short distance from town, we want our guests and staff to have the confidence that the life-saving equipment is available if required in the event of an emergency,” explained Oliver Gaffey, Sales & Marketing Manager. “The safety of our staff and guests is top priority but we would like to make the local community here in Lynn and Belvedere aware of our AED and should an emergency occur please do not hesitate to ask for our assistance.”