Defibrillator in Annunziata Square outside the National Bank
EKAB
16 Apr 2019
/ 15:11
CORFU. A gift from the Hellenic-German Friendship Society to the Corfu ambulance service (EKAB).
Corfu Ambulance Service (EKAB) placed an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in the centre of Corfu Town today - outside the National (Ethniki) Bank in Annunziata Square.
The defibrillator is a gift from the Hellenic-German Friendship Society to Corfu EKAB. It is the first one to be placed in a central part of town - there are AEDs at the port, Corfu 'Capodistrias' Airport, the swimming pool, the indoor basketball court and the National SPorts Centre.
The AED is a mobile device which analyses heart rate and if it finds a serious problem, proceeds with defibrillation to restore proper heart rate. Use of the machine is restricted to certified resuscitators who have been trained in First Aid and CPR. Most AEDs are designed to be used under any conditions in emergencies when there is no immediate medical help available - they can be used by any member of the public aged over 12 who has attended special CPR trainings in the use of AEDs and artificial respiration.
Although progress in the provision of emergency cardiac treatment is continuously increasing the probabilities of survival following a heart attack, it still remains one of the main causes of death worldwide. Most deaths from heart attacks occur suddenly, out of hospital and with little or no warning - sudden cardiac death. The most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest is a cardiac rhythm disorder called Ventricular Fibrillation (VF), which must be corrected immediately - within 3 minutes - by electrical defibrillation using a defibrillator so that normal heart rhythm is restored.
The existence of a defibrillator at the location of the incident can save precious time and save lives. In an emergency an ambulance, which has trained personnel, must be called immediately.
Thomas Bandas from Corfu EKAB Workers' Union told Enimerosi, "We are grateful to the Hellenic-German Friendship Society for their valuable gift. It would be good if the Ionian Islands Regional Administration could purchase other such devices through the ESPA Programme and place them in other locations on the island."
The defibrillator is a gift from the Hellenic-German Friendship Society to Corfu EKAB. It is the first one to be placed in a central part of town - there are AEDs at the port, Corfu 'Capodistrias' Airport, the swimming pool, the indoor basketball court and the National SPorts Centre.
The AED is a mobile device which analyses heart rate and if it finds a serious problem, proceeds with defibrillation to restore proper heart rate. Use of the machine is restricted to certified resuscitators who have been trained in First Aid and CPR. Most AEDs are designed to be used under any conditions in emergencies when there is no immediate medical help available - they can be used by any member of the public aged over 12 who has attended special CPR trainings in the use of AEDs and artificial respiration.
Although progress in the provision of emergency cardiac treatment is continuously increasing the probabilities of survival following a heart attack, it still remains one of the main causes of death worldwide. Most deaths from heart attacks occur suddenly, out of hospital and with little or no warning - sudden cardiac death. The most common cause of sudden cardiac arrest is a cardiac rhythm disorder called Ventricular Fibrillation (VF), which must be corrected immediately - within 3 minutes - by electrical defibrillation using a defibrillator so that normal heart rhythm is restored.
The existence of a defibrillator at the location of the incident can save precious time and save lives. In an emergency an ambulance, which has trained personnel, must be called immediately.
Thomas Bandas from Corfu EKAB Workers' Union told Enimerosi, "We are grateful to the Hellenic-German Friendship Society for their valuable gift. It would be good if the Ionian Islands Regional Administration could purchase other such devices through the ESPA Programme and place them in other locations on the island."
