Ten life-saving automated defibrillators have been presented to support the fishing fleet in Bridlington.
Fishermen gathered in the Harbour Master’s Office to receive the specialist life-saving machines from Sandra Welch of the Seafarers Hospital Society.
Crew members from boats Dylharis, Eventide, Kimberley and Siwrengale were presented with the defibrillators, with Bridlington Shellfish Co- operative boats getting four life-saving machines and the crew of Hollie J awaiting delivery of theirs in the next few weeks.
A static defibrillator will also be situated at the seaward end of the South Pier.
When seafaring vessels are up to 50 miles from land and early treatment is not available these defibrillators are vital in preserving life, alongside CPR.
The crew of all the vessels in receipt of one of these machines will be trained in its use as well as basic life support and CPR.
The Fishermen’s Mission and Seafarers Hospital Society charities award-winning SeaFit service donated the lifesaving machines which support patients suffering a cardiac arrest by stopping and restarting the heart to restore normal rhythm.
Early treatment is the most important factor to save a life in any cardiac arrest.
According to the British Heart Foundation, less than 1 in 10 people survive a sudden cardiac arrest, and research shows that with every minute that passes the survival rate reduces by 10%, yet using a defibrillator will more than likely save that life.
Across East and North Yorkshire, the SeaFit health improvement practitioners, provided by the Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust, work from their mobile vehicle to support people from the local fishing community by addressing any health and wellbeing concerns.
Working with local partners, they offer a wide variety of services including mental health support, smoking cessation, healthy eating, drug and alcohol abuse and preventing long-term health conditions
by undertaking the NHS cardiovascular health checks, as well as regular health and body composition checks.
For more information visit the SeaFit Website: www. seahospital.org.uk
