Meeting of the Parliament 07 January 2020
I, too, congratulate my colleague Tom Arthur for bringing an important matter to the attention of Parliament. It is a great opportunity to celebrate and recognise wonderful work that is going on across Scotland.
According to the Scottish Ambulance Service, every year in Scotland more than 3,500 people are treated by defibs after having a cardiac arrest. Unfortunately, only about one in 12 of those individuals survives. However, prompt bystander CPR and early defibrillation can significantly increase the chances of survival. So, I was delighted to be asked just over a year ago, with my colleague Alan Brown MP, to open a life-saving public access defibrillator in the village of Lugton in my constituency. That installation was a marvellous response from Dunlop and Lugton community council to the sad death of one of its residents.
Using a defibrillator alongside CPR can greatly increase survival rates, but to be most effective a defibrillator should be used within the first three to five minutes after a person has collapsed. When someone has a cardiac arrest and both CPR and a defibrillator are used within three minutes, the chance of survival could be as high as 70 per cent, or even 80 per cent. That is why it was great to see that life-saving device being put in place so that it can be used be used 24/7, in such emergencies.
Using an old British Telecom phone box to house the defib was innovative and creative, and many local people and businesses were involved in its restoration and fitting out. In particular, my constituent Martha Brindley spent much of her time renovating the telephone kiosk by removing glass, stripping back old paint and repainting it bright red. Local businesses and residents were equally generous with their time, donations and handiwork. It was great to see a small community pulling together for the benefit of its residents, who might need the equipment to help to save a life.
As there are in Tom Arthur’s constituency, in my constituency there are other great examples that are worthy of mention. One of Kilmarnock’s popular pubs, the Brass and Granite, is on a mission to create a community of life-savers by placing a number of defibrillators around the town, as well as offering CPR training. So far, it has provided 14 automated external defibrillators in schools, community centres and housing estates. Its target is to provide about 20.
The pub’s owner, David Little, summed it up really well when he said that people should overcome their fear of hurting someone with a defibrillator. The pub’s internal training sessions are designed to overcome that and to build confidence among the community. The sessions have been a great success and have attracted younger people who want to find out more about the equipment and how to put it to good use in an emergency: you do not need to be an adult to save a life. Mr Little and his staff are to be congratulated for that amazing effort. Their quest goes on to identify more locations in the district where access to defibs could help to save more lives.
Not to be outdone, Stewarton has managed to get in on the act. St John Scotland and the local Boys Brigade have joined forces to raise funds through coffee and breakfast mornings. An AED is now proudly situated just outside John Knox parish church on Stewarton’s High Street, and is available 24/7, should it be needed.
There are many fine examples of such work going on across Scotland, and we are bound to hear about more of them this afternoon. I do not know whether Ayrshire is leading the way on the work, but it seems that a large number of defibrillators are in place across the county. One of the more recently installed defibrillators is in Prestwick, just outside the 65 club on Main Street. Although Prestwick is not in my constituency, I know it very well. Great credit goes to John and Tracy Wallace, who are local people, for being the driving force behind that particular defibrillator.
There is no doubt that defibrillators are saving lives throughout Scotland. There is growing interest from communities and businesses in taking the lead, which is very welcome for communities and people whose lives might yet be saved because of the generosity and determination of many people in their communities.
I again thank Tom Arthur for bringing this important business to the attention of Parliament.
17:26