A new public defibrillator at Perth Airport will be a “lifesaver”, according to Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA).
The Powerheart Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was gifted to SCAA by suppliers Cardiac Science and is now available for use in emergencies to everyone at the airfield near Scone.
Steve Jeffs, of Cardiac Science, is also a former chief ambulance officer for Tayside and worked on the first air ambulance trials at Dundee in the late 1980s.
“Having worked with the ambulance service for more than 20 years I know the value of early intervention in heart attack cases and it is a pleasure to donate a defibrillator to SCAA which will be made available to everyone using the airport.”
SCAA lead paramedic John Pritchard said that the ambulance service would normally call SCAA during an emergency at Perth Airport.
He said: “When we are out on a call or outwith operating hours, however, the defibrillator could potentially prove a life-saver.
“It all comes down to early intervention in the chain of survival and anyone can follow the simple instructions and help save a life if the need arises.
“Statistics show that the benefits of early good quality CPR and the use of a defibrillator can greatly increase someone’s chances of surviving a heart attack.”
The defibrillator donation was prompted by locally-based company A & E (First Aid) Training.
Owner and Lead Trainer Alan Moffat said he felt a public defibrillator would be a valuable tool at Perth Airport.
“There are now 115 publicly accessible defibrillators in key locations around Perth and Kinross,” he said.
“They are already proving their worth and it seems sensible to have a publicly accessible one at such a busy complex as Perth Airport.”
Airport operator ACS Aviation’s Managing Director Graeme Frater said the life-saving device would prove a great asset.
“At any one time, Perth Airport can have upwards of 400 people on site and when SCAA paramedics are out on a call or off duty a defibrillator could prove vital if anyone suffers a cardiac arrest.
“Last weekend we also had around 100 visitors on site so it is good to know that we have this resource in future should the worst happen.”
The airport is home to nearly 100 aircraft and the country’s oldest and largest aero clubs with more than 300 active members. Dozens of businesses are also based at Perth Airport, as well as the world-renowned Air Service Training.
