Lifesaving skills team launched 15/9/14
An initiative which teaches people what to do in a life threatening heart attack situation has been lauched in Harris.
The Heartstart project initially started back in 2011 when a team from NHS Western Isles delivered a course on basic life support (BLS) and first aid, organised by the Harris Voluntary Service.
Since then a number of courses have been held to train members of the community in lifesaving skills which teaches simple techniques to be used prior to the arrival of professional help if one happens to be on the scene at the time of a medical emergency.
A number of defibrillators were purchased with £3,000 donation from the Harris Charity Shop and funding from The Cathy Macleod Trust
Defibrillators delivers an electric shock to the heart when someone is having a cardiac arrest.
One machine has been installed outside the shared entrance to the Harris Sports Centre at Sir E Scott School.
Others are expected to be located in Scalpay, Leverburgh and West Harris.
Training in using defibrillators is being organised through the group Heartstart Harris which is made up of locals who have taken courses to become instructors.
Heartstart Harris has now successfully applied to the British Heart Foundation to start delivering emergency life support training with defibrillator awareness.
One initiative is to put local secondary pupils through at least one Heartstart course with defibrillator training.
Western Isles Council recently announced that they are now in partnership with Lucky2Bhere in putting defibrillators in all island sports centres.
Tony Wade, sport facility manager for the Western Isles and CNES are spearheading this project and were invaluable in helping the formation of Heartstart Harris by providing lifeguards as experienced candidates already trained in emergency situations and giving them time off to attend this specific training.