A busy August and September!
21st September 2019Our Heartstart Instructors have been busy in local communities delivering tuition in emergency life support skills
On 26th August we visited The Dunblane Centre to work with teenagers undertaking a CMS Academy course towards sustainable employment. 7 participated in a Heartstart class and learned several skills to enable them to save a life including working as a team performing CPR and using a defibrillator.
Also food to catch up with staff from Stirling and Dunblane Fire Station delivering Home Safety advice to the Lunch Club members at the same venue.
On 2nd Sept we delivered Heartstart training at Benview Garden Centre for 6 members of staff and discussed their plans to place a public access defibrillator there.
On 3rd Sept we were delighted to attend the AGM of the Friends of Aberfoyle and Buchlyvie Surgeries and with other agencies inc Scottish Fire and Rescue, Stirling Council, talk about our work locally in terms of Heartstart and Public Access Defibs.
On 4th Sept we were delighted to launch our latest public access defibrillator - this one at the Fire Station, Dunblane.
On 5th Sept, building on the fabulous fundraising by Fundraising 4 Bannockburn, and assisted by Greg Farquharson - an ambulance paramedic who was one of the fundraisers and local cops PCs Steven Haldane and Lara Elder Forth Valley Police Division we trained 326 staff and pupils in the recovery position and CPR at Bannockburn Primary School.
On 12th Sept we visited Lecropt Nursery, Bridge of Allan and worked with the children to learn how to check for breathing, the recovery position and CPR.
On 13th Sept two instructors visited one of their workplaces at Turners in Glasgow and delivered training to 30 staff.
On 16th Sept we delivered a Heartstart class at Dunblane Cathedral for 17 people
So far in 2019 we have delivered 72 classes to just over 1,500 people.
This past month also saw two successful uses of public access defibrillators by members of the public.
We've also been busy supporting several local organisations and villages:
On 24th August we had stands at both Thornhill Gala Day nr Stirling and Carron Valley Community Open Day at Sauchieburn. Trainee search dog Zak attended the Thornhill event with his handler Brian.
On 31st Aug and 1 Sept we attended the Kirkintilloch Canal Festival and promoted water safety as well as having our rescue boat on the Forth and Clyde Canal.
On 3rd Sept we attended the Friends of Aberfoyle and Buchlyvie Surgeries
On 7th and 8th Sept one of our search dogs - Spock, with handler Steven supported the Dog Lovers Show at the SEC, Glasgow
Also on 8th Sept, our snr search dog Taz, and handler Gayle attended a remembrance service for the victims of the 9/11 attacks, held at Cathcart Old Parish Church in Glasgow
On 12th Sept, search dog Spock visited Lecropt Nursery at Bridge of Allan to talk about his work and do a demonstration.
Also on 12th Sept, search dog Clova visited a charity event at St Andrews University to talk about his work, and handler Rod talked about life experiences in the RAF, Mtn Rescue and our team.
On 14th Sept we had crews attend - Stirling Fire Station Open Day, with search dog Taz and trainee search dog Taz there; St Mary's Church Fair at Dunblane - with search dog Jess there and Balfron Aquathlon - where we provided first aid cover.
On 16th Sept we attended a mtg in Cambusbarron and gave advice on the installation of a public access defibrillator. Thanks Cambusbarron Community Development Trust.
And yesterday 18th and today 19th Sept, search dog Clova and handler Rod have been at the Emergency Services Show talking to people about our work.
Update:
September saw our members attend 44 callouts - an exceptionally busy month!
In 2 cases, public access defibs were used by members of the public and thankfully 1 life was saved. We ensured the defibs were made ready for use again and took one back to its cabinet, from Callander to Crianlarich.
We attended 10 incidents for the Scottish Ambulance Service - as far apart as Milngavie, Balmaha and Rowardennan.
We took 32 requests from Stirling Council's TECS to assist with alarm activations, some resulting in delivering first aid to elderly persons whilst awaiting the ambulance service and working with them on their arrival.
