'Arbitrary' 500m limit set on defibs 'will cost lives'

Scotland's ambulance service will only tell first aiders about a lifesaving defibrillator if it's within 500m of a heart attack, 'for fear those fetching it might have a vehicle accident', Taynuilt Community Council was told.

 

In a scathing letter to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), council chairman David Sloss called the 500m limit, and lack of information about it, 'a scandalous betrayal' of all those who developed the defibrillator network.

 

In October, health organisations, including the BHF and Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS), called for public-access defibrillators (PADs) to be registered on a national network called The Circuit, which connects PADs to NHS ambulances services.

 

If ambulances don't know a PAD is nearby, the BHF explained, 'they can’t direct someone at the scene to retrieve it while waiting for the ambulance to arrive'.

 

James Jopling, head of BHF Scotland, said: 'Every second counts when someone has a cardiac arrest and, alongside CPR, prompt use of a defibrillator is critical in giving them the best chance of survival. Knowing where the nearest defibrillator is could be the difference between life and death.'

 

In November, Mr Sloss wrote to BHF: 'Following a recent incident locally where a life was saved using a PAD, the casualty being shocked twice prior to the ambulance service arriving, I discovered the PAD had been provided due to local knowledge and at no time during the incident was its location passed on by the SAS call handler to those attending the casualty.

 

'On enquiring of the SAS, I was informed its policy is to not pass the location of a PAD if it is more than 500m away for fear that those fetching it might have a vehicle accident.

 

'This in the context of rural Scotland where ambulances have protracted running times, for example, a recent member of our local medical practice waited an hour when she suffered a heart attack.

 

'Communities work hard to raise funds and think they are protected by a PAD in a central location while, in reality, the majority will be denied the chance of survival, or the opportunity to save a life, by a policy based on an arbitrary decision about risk.

 

'There is nothing within your websites to explain to users the limitations imposed on the use of the database.

 

'This may be demotivating to stakeholders, however, the current policy will have cost lives. Communities must not be given a false sense of security.

 

'I would prefer the SAS change its policy but, in the meantime, ask that you correct the information you provide to more accurately reflect what I regard as a scandalous betrayal of all those who have worked to develop the defibrillator network.'

 

BHF responded: 'The radius is determined by each ambulance service. To change the radius, which is defaulted to most ambulance services to 500m, a guardian will need to liaise with the ambulance service.'

 

A SAS spokesperson said it was 'working in line with the current guidance from the Resuscitation Council UK' on placing automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

 

'An AED is most effective and provides the best chance of survival when ideally used within the first three minutes of a cardiac arrest. When a cardiac arrest call is received by one of our call handlers, they will advise bystanders if there is an AED available within 500m.

 

'Extending the current 500m radius would undermine the critical need to respond to a patient rapidly and provide emergency medical support before an ambulance arrives.'