Cardiac responder scheme gains steam in Shetland
A LIFESAVING initiative that uses volunteers to respond to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests is branching out in Shetland.
A group of volunteer responders is ready to go live in Skerries, with a scheme set to follow in Hillswick.
There is a plan to roll out the Scottish Ambulance Service initiative in other areas too, with Bressay and the Westside next on the list.
The national scheme is called the Wildcats Cardiac Responders.
A meeting of Shetland’s community safety and resilience board heard on Monday that nine people attended the training in Skerries.
Scottish Ambulance Service’s area service manager for Orkney and Shetland Drew Mayhew said the participants have an app on their phone that provides alerts.
The aim is to have trained volunteers on hand to provide quick actions such as CPR or using a defibrillator whilst an ambulance is on its way.
Skerries is the first Wildcat responder team in Shetland, and the first in the islands as none are set up yet in Orkney or the Western Isles.
In Hillswick there are four people on board with two more interested.
Mayhew said he feels the scheme is “really, really good for Shetland”.
The meeting heard there are already emergency responders in other islands like the North Isles and Whalsay, while there are some first responders on the mainland.
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