Press Release

Defibrillator training arrives at Gatwick

 

13 September 2006

Front-line airport staff are being encouraged to sign up to defibrillator training courses being held in the airport throughout September and October. Organised by BAA Gatwick’s Health and Safety Department, the courses are provided by the South East Coast Ambulance Service (Surrey).

Heart defibrillators were first installed at Gatwick four years ago as part of the Department for Health’s “Saving Lives “ campaign, an initiative to install defibrillators in public places to help reduce the amount of deaths caused by cardiac arrest. Current evidence from the Department of Health suggests that 74 lives have been saved as a direct result of the work of the campaign nationally.

Early intervention through the use of defibrillators on a individual who has suffered a cardiac arrest is proven to significantly increase a person’s chances of survival. Gatwick has 55 life saving defibrillator kits dotted around the airport at strategic points and there are currently 150 airport staff trained to use the equipment. Initial training in basic life support and the use of a defibrillator takes just four hours, with refresher training, which is required every six months, taking two hours. Training courses start on Monday 25 September.

BAA Gatwick’s Health, Safety and Environment Leader, Louis Smith said: “ We would like to encourage as many airport staff as possible to take a defibrillator training course, especially those employees who have contact with passengers on a daily basis. The courses are open to all airport companies and are offered free of charge. Defibrillators are simple to use and you don’t need to have any first aid experience to sign up for the course. The effectiveness of defibrillation cannot be underestimated– they really do help save lives, so do sign up”  

Notes to editor

• Training sessions start on Monday 25 September until Friday 27 October 2006.

• Training courses will be held at Gatwick. Contact the Health and Safety Department for details of venue.

• BAA staff should book onto the course through the Oracle system. Non- BAA staffshould contact BAA Gatwick’s Health and Safety Department on 01293 504456 For further information on BAA Gatwick see www.gatwickairport.com

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