Two weeks before Christmas 2025 an elderly gentleman was strolling through Knowle Park when he suffered a cardiac arrest. Despite the efforts of many, he could not be resuscitated.
This incident has prompted the Society to sponsor a fully Automated External Defibrillator (AED) for the park. Whilst Knowle High Street is well served there are none close to Knowle Park. Thankfully Jobs Close Residential Care Home has agreed to place one in a yellow cabinet by the front door. It has a coded lock; the code is held by 999 operators. SMBC have agreed to place signs in the park.
Should you encounter a collapsed person, the advice is:
- Check Responsiveness: Shake their shoulders and shout. If no response:
- Call for Help: Dial 999 immediately and ask for ‘Ambulance’. You will now be guided by the ambulance service call handlers throughout the process.
- If they’re not breathing, then quickly call for help (or ask someone else to) and start CPR: cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Use both hands – one on top of the other – to push down firmly in the centre of their chest, about 5-6cm with each push. It’s quite a big push, so if you get right over them so that your arms are straight and you can use your own body weight that will help. You are helping get blood to their organs, especially their brain, and the pushing will also help draw some fresh air into their lungs. Push down twice a second
- Get an AED If available, send someone else to fetch an AED. The 999 operator will advise on nearest AED location and the cabinet access code
- Use the AED: When it arrives, turn it on, and follow the voice instructions.
- You can do no harm with the AED.
- Continue CPR until help arrives: unless Breathing Resumes, in which case place the patient in the recovery position.