07/11/2021
The Community Heartbeat Trust (CHT) is a charity whose aims are to help and support communities in the correct provision of defibrillators, but in sustainable, resilient and governance led manner. We invented the term "cPAD".
Defibrillators (also known as AEDs) are medical devices that help and support a rescue for a patient in Cardiac Arrest. They achieve this by applying a current of electricity across the heart to stop it, allowing it to reconfigure automatically. Defibrillators are not "Heart Re-starters" - any sign indicating this is wrong!
Death from Cardiac Arrest if untreated is about 97% of cases. With the correct and rapid treatment, survival to hospital can, in theory, be raised to around the 70% mark, but this assumes rapid action, good CPR (Chest compressions) and also the timely use of a defibrillator.
The heart degrades by around 20% per minute after a Cardiac Arrest, and so the faster help can be given the better the outcome. The process is known as the ‘Chain of Survival’
CHT also ensures that communities obtain the correct defibrillators equipment, equipment that is designed for the task and conforms to the various legislative requirements, such as disability laws. We also review and ensure the storage cabinets meet the right requirements for the need, this means storage that will minimise condensation, is heated with the right type of heater, conforms to health and safety, as well as electrical safety requirements, and meets disability recommendations. Suitable cabinets are branded as meeting the ‘ShockBox’ standard.
CHT were the originators of the use of telephone kiosks for defibrillator use and now have around 1000 sites using kiosks. We are the partner organisation to BT and the only approved installer from BT (despite what some organisations claim). All kiosk installations are pre-registered onto the WebNos Governance system so BT can monitor electricity usage, and the local ambulance service is aware of the location and status.
All CHT projects are supported by DefibShield anti-theft service and also post-rescue counselling. They are also supported by a range of add-on services suitable for the location. Typically, these include the VETS service, which is a Volunteer Emergency Telephone System helping communities address the lone rescuer and spread out communities.
CHT works with Rotary International, The Club Cricket Charity, and RFU as a preferred supplier. CHT has helped some 6000 communities and is arguably the leading charity in this area; certainly, the only organisation focused on resilience, sustainability and governance. Always call 999 Ambulance in an emergency.
