Defibrillator installed at RVL site
May, 2013

A defibrillator is a life-saving machine that gives the heart an electric shock in some cases of cardiac arrest. This is called defibrillation and can save lives. Cardiac arrest is when the heart stops pumping blood around the body. When someone has a cardiac arrest, defibrillation needs to be prompt. For every minute that passes without defibrillation, chances of survival decrease by 14%. Research shows that applying a controlled shock within five minutes of collapse provides the best possible chances of survival. (source: British Heart Foundation)

RVL has recently installed a defibrillator on-site, because our rural position means that an ambulance could be delayed. Eight member of the RVL team have been trained how to use the machine. The number of people working and visiting here means that this vital machine could make the difference in an emergency.