Station heroes' cardiac drama
TWO Doncaster railway station staff have emerged as lifesaving heroes.
John Webb and Carl Marsh-Smith sprung into action after seeing a 75-year-old passenger collapse on the platform next to Trafford Way.
They produced a defibrillator – a piece of equipment which uses an electrical current to restart a heart – to save his life.
Carl was first on the scene and called for assistance. He began giving the man first aid. John responded to the call and arrived with the defibrillator, which he attached and operated.
The man, who was with his six-year-old granddaughter at the time, has since made a full recovery.
Now the actions of John and Carl have led to an award for Doncaster Station in the annual National Lifesaver Defibrillator Awards, hosted by the national cardiac charity SADS UK.
SADS stands for Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome, and its awards honour those who have saved lives.
The station staff were nominated by Yorkshire Ambulance Service for the award, and judges say their efficiency and teamwork saved the man's life.
Staff at the station had been trained in basic life support and how to use the defibrillator.
A spokesman said they sprung quickly into action and, after a quick assessment showed the man was not breathing, John and Carl acted on the platform while other staff arranged quick access for the ambulance crew to get to the casualty.
Other staff at the station helped by looking after and comforting the distressed six-year-old girl.
The citation said: "This very co-ordinated approach and teamwork made a significant contribution to the welfare of the grandfather who made a complete recovery."
East Coast Duty Station Manager Alan Hodgson said: "Station staff worked as a team and put into practice the lifesaving skills that we have been trained to use in just this type of situation.
"We are honoured to receive this award and very pleased the gentleman concerned made a complete recovery."
The award was presented at an evening ceremony to Joan Grant, another of the managers at the station.
She said: "We are extremely proud and grateful that the defibrillator was at the railway station when this emergency occurred. We were all so pleased that the grandfather survived the cardiac arrest and has gone on to make a full recovery."
Anne Jolly, the founder of SADS UK, said the award for the station staff was richly deserved.
She said: "We are so pleased that the teamwork and action taken by staff at Doncaster Railway Station resulted in this gentleman's life being saved.
"If a person goes into cardiac arrest a therapeutic shock delivered by the defibrillator as quickly as possible gives a person the best chance of survival.
"SADS UK promotes defibrillators being widely available in the community and advocates that defibrillators should be available in all schools.
"The charity distributes information to training organizations and in the community to help identify people who may have an underlying cardiac condition."
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Friday 25 May 2012
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