Wales Air Ambulance has been working with Achub Calon y Dyffryn to place defibrillators at both Caernarfon and Welshpool Airports. The devices will be located so that they are available to the airfields and the wider surrounding communities.
 

When someone suffers a cardiac arrest there is a short window of time to offer treatment to reverse the life-threatening situation. For every minute that goes by without giving CPR and using a defibrillator, the chances of survival drop by about 10%.
 

By placing defibrillators in public locations survival rates will continue to improve as definitive treatment can be offered there and then before the arrival of the emergency services to stabilise the patient.
 

Whilst the air ambulance’s critical care teams are located at both airfields, they could of course be attending another emergency leaving the sites absent of lifesaving equipment. By placing these defibrillators, it will ensure all staff and visitors will have immediate access to emergency medical equipment should the need arise.
 

Volunteers from Achub Calon y Dyffryn and staff from EMRTS Cymru and the Welsh Ambulance Service provided the airport staff and the Wales Air Ambulance charity staff and volunteers with free training ensuring sufficient help will always be nearby.
 

The first training session took place at Caernarfon Airport on Thursday December 7, with training for Welshpool staff and volunteers planned for early 2018.

A defibrillator is also located in reception at the charity’s headquarters in Dafen, Llanelli.