THE importance of Frome’s lifesaving defibrillators has been highlighted by the recent events at the Euro 2020 football tournament, which saw Denmark footballer, Christian Eriksen, collapse suddenly during a match.
Football fans were left in shock when the 29 year-old player collapsed during a Euro 2020 match against Finland. Eriksen had suffered a cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated on the pitch – the medical team used a defibrillator to help save his life.
Frome has 26 defibrillators – which can be used in the event of a cardiac arrest – available in public places across the town and in some rural places.
“No other community in the South West region has such a density of coverage,” said a spokesperson from the Friends of Frome Hospital Community Defibrillator Project, who are raising awareness about their locations and the difference they can make in an emergency.
“The cardiac failure to the Danish footballer Christian Eriksen, an apparently fit young sportsman during the Euro’s football competition, highlights the real significance of getting a defibrillator to an emergency trauma quickly. The live coverage of the incident, shown on television across the world, shows how rapid these incidents happen and fortunately the sports medics were there to react, and in this case resuscitated the player when his heart stopped.
“A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, of any age, at anytime, anywhere, which is the reasoning behind the Friends of Frome Hospital investment and installation of a network of 26 Publicly Available Defibrillator units (PAD) strategically located across the town and in our local villages.
“Confronted with such an incident it is important to make immediate contact with the 999-ambulance service who will be able to provide the location, and code access, of a PAD nearest to the scene of the incident, whilst paramedics are on the way.
“The Frome PAD units have been called upon a number of times since the first units were installed five years ago, but the ‘Friends’ are not privy to the outcome of each incident because of patient confidentiality.
“However, it has been made known that one lady was successfully resuscitated by members of the public using a nearby PAD unit.
“Although a cardiac trauma can happen anywhere, the most likely scenario to arise would be with family or neighbours, and we are encouraging people to familiarise themselves with their local PAD if one was ever needed.”
The scenes from Copenhagen also hit close to home for Frome Town Football Club, who have a mobile defibrillator for match days.
Manager Danny Greaves said, “What happened to Christian Eriksen during the Euro 2020 game was shocking to see, and a stark reminder that anyone at any time can suffer cardiac issues and the importance of having good cardiac protocols in place.
“We at Frome Town continually review our cardiac protocols to ensure we have the relevant trained people in attendance at all home games and events, and we all know who is where, and who does what in any event.
“Alongside these critical protocols, having a defibrillator on site is crucial to saving a life if the worst ever happened.”
Frome’s Publicly Available Defibrillator units can found at: Frome Medical Practice, Enos Way; Lloyds Pharmacy, Forest Road; Ellenbray Toy Shop, Westway Precinct; M&S Trolley Bay, Kingsway Precinct; Cheese & Grain, Justice Lane; Gracewell House, Welshmill Lane; Merlin Theatre, Bath Road; Memorial Theatre, Christchurch St. West; Frome Railway Station, Station Approach; Indulgence Hair Salon, 9 St John’s Road; ASDA Store, Warminster Road; Frome Fire Station, Keyford; The Key Centre, Feltham Lane; Halfords (cycle shop), Handlemaker Road; Acorn Pharmacy, Locks Hill; Oakfield Academy, Oakfield Road; YMCA Youth Centre, Vallis Road; Harry’s Hydro, Nunney Road; Frome Flyer (Premier Inn), Jensen Avenue; Frome Livestock Market, Standerwick; Clarrie Bowling Club, Standerwick (A36); Three Horseshoes, Chapmanslade; The Royal Oak, Corsley Heath, The White Hart, Trudoxhill, Nunney Village, Dalimore Mead; Buckland Dinham Village, Main Street.
