Fire service offers free life saving training for local organisations

Staff at Glenrothes fire station have joined a new initiative launched by a leading heart charity this month, offering the use of 10 kits that will teach the public the skills to help resuscitate a victim in an emergency situation.

British Heat Foundation have teamed up with everyone of the 356 fire station in Scotland to supply them with the Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) kits that are now being offered for us by any employer, school or community group across the Glenrothes area, providing the basics that will save lives.

Fire crews are increasingly the first emergency service at the scene and are now attending more non fire emergency calls that ever before.

And with around 3500 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases undergoing attempted resuscitation across Scotland every year, being equipped with the right skills as part of early intervention could be the difference between life in death.

Currently Scotland has one of the worst survival rate records in Europe with just one in 20 making a hospital discharge against a one in one in four rate in other European countries. Now the fire service is calling on the public to get involved.

“It’s a fantastic idea and one we want the public to get right behind, “ James Adams, watch manager at Glenrothes fire station told the Gazette.

“Each kit comes with a practice mannequin and is supported with a short and simple training DVD that will teach you all you need to know.

“It’s ideal for local companies for giving their staff the vital skills and best of all it’s completely free to anyone who wants to give it a go.”

And Graham Arnott, station manager at Glenrothes added that they are now just waiting for organisations to get in touch and they will even offer to deliver the kits to those interested .

To find out more call James or Graham on 01592-741666.

A joint trial involving Scottish Fire and rescue service and the Scottish Ambulance service to increase the survival rate of patients who suffer out-of-hospital cardiac arrest went live in October 2015. The trial is currently running at seven stations with crew being given enhanced training as part of the Scottish Government’s strategy aimed at dramatically increasing survival chances and a targeting the saving of 1000 lives because of the training by 2020.