Herodsfoot Community Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) Appeal Background Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) kills more people than breast or lung cancer. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a first aid technique that can be used if someone is not breathing properly or if their heart has stopped. CPR provides some circulation of oxygen-rich blood to the victim's heart and brain. This circulation delays both brain death and the death of heart muscle. CPR also makes the heart more likely to respond to defibrillation. Survival: 5% with CPR alone; 50% with defibrillation The rate of survival of an SCA is dependent upon time. The quicker the intervention, the better is the outcome. Brain death starts after 3 minutes so urgent action is needed, particularly in rural areas where it can take several minutes to get a competently trained person to the scene. PADs can be at the scene in a matter of minutes. A PAD for Herodsfoot Jamie Sprake, one of the Forest Holidays team has been researching the possibility of installing a PAD for use by the Herodsfoot community and visitors. He has initiated an appeal to raise money for a Community Public Access Defibrillator to be installed at Deerpark Cabins, Herodsfoot. The Defibrillator will be mounted by the phone box outside the Forest Retreat. PADs have to be housed in a locked, heated box with a secure internet connection. By dialling 999, a user would be given instructions to access the equipment and deliver a lifesaving electric shock to a casualty, should it be appropriate. South West Ambulance Service agreed a PAD would benefit Herodsfoot and the location at Forest Holidays is appropriate. Trained members of the Forest Holiday team will be available 24/7. The Defibrillator will be supplied and maintained by FLEET, a charity that relies on fund raising and donations from people of Cornwall. FLEET have a campaign to install PADs across the county. Funding the Herodsfoot PAD The money needed to be raised for the Herodsfoot PAD is £3000.  Forest Holidays will be donating a cabin stay to help raise money. Last year an auction for a Forest Holiday raised £800 that was donated to Cornwall Air Ambulance.  A donation box will be situated in the café area  Proceeds from the twice weekly quiz nights will go straight to this appeal.  Donations can be also made via the JustGiving website https://www.justgiving.com/herodsfootPADappeal/ To find more information about FLEET http://fleet.org.uk/ For any other queries please contact Jamie Sprake on 01503 220370 or by email [email protected]. Radio Cornwall Interview: Jamie will be talking to Nina Davey live on Radio Cornwall about the Herodsfoot PAD Appeal on Wednesday 18th February at 3.30pm. Funds have already started to be donated and can be watched growing on the JustGiving website. If like me, you believe the possibility of having a PAD available in Herodsfoot is a great idea and could help save lives, please support and donate to this appeal initiated by Jamie Sprake. Kind Regards Mary