Nine new defibrillator units for Co Meath VEC

SOME 86 personnel from various VEC schools and services recentlly completed the initial first aid training.

These personnel included teachers, students, administration and support staff. Training involved an intensive CPR module as well as actual training with the defibrillation.

The VEC schools involved were from all corners of the county and included Dunshaughlin Community College; St Oliver's, Oldcastle; St Peter's, Dunboyne; Colaiste Poball, Rathcairn; Beaufort and Abbey Road Administration Centre, Navan.

In Ireland, it is estimated that 7,000 people every year have a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) with only one per cent surviving. SCA can strike anyone at anytime, and at any age without warning. Defibrillation is the single most effective treatment for SCA.

Although not everyone can be saved from SCA, studies show that the survival rates can be dramatically improved by more than 780 per cent with early defibrillation. The Irish Heart Foundation recommends defibrillation is delayed by no more than three to five minutes of an SCA. If there is a defibrillator on site, this can deliver a life-saving shock while the ambulance is on its way.

Training is approved by both the Irish Heart Foundation and the American Heart Foundation. The Youth Officer with Meath VEC, Elma McMahon, will undertake training to become an AED teacher so that the skills learned by staff and students alike can be updated and maintained.