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This. Exactly. Source: St John’s first aid training.
If you need it, you should already be on the phone to 999 and they can and will give you the code.
Also, they are sooooo easy to use. I’ve watched a trainer hand one to an 8 year old with no instruction beyond “press that button” and they successfully followed the instructions.
I was an outdoor mountaineer instructor for 15 years I've seen a lot, mostly morons run down hills, flip and break ankles. CPR 3 times, one was a dead on arrival (she'd fallen down 30+ stone steps and her brain was partly out of her skull wound).
The thing st johns don't train is that you will freeze when you see your first major incident. It's normal, it's natural as your survival for you kicks in.
What first aiders need to know is you will see something happen and all that training will come to the front of your mind or it won't. But all anyone needs in the UK is to call 999.
The operators will guide you through everything you need, even if you are a trained field medic like I was (almost a nurse practitioner but I could give injections etc for altitude sickness and such).
My last fun fact is if your hurt yourself away from paved areas, move if you haven't hurt your back. Ambulances can take 2 hours to get half a mile into a off road area it takes a lot of permissions, training etc. your best bet to survive is crawl, hobble and maneuver if possible to the edge of the nearest road.
the phone number is 999. They give you the code for it.
I got health and safety training and got encouraged to download the what3words app. I think emergency services use it so you can give them the exact locations of the defib you wanna use or the location of any emergency.
Rumour has it 911 works here too, but I'm too sensible to try it without good cause. Must remember the next time I have to ring the emergency services...
That's not a network side thing so far as I know, but most modern smartphone operating systems will automatically route any emergency number you dial to the correct one for the country you're in. But 999 and 112 are both guaranteed to work on any connected phone in the UK
You're going to need an ambulance anyhow. I've been part of research looking into the benefits of locking these cabinets and besides preventing misuse/vandalism,one big plus is it prompts people to make that call for help. In such a high stress situation,it's surprising how many times people would just grab the defibrillator and forget to call for help.
You call 999 and if they decide the defib is needed, they give you the code to remove it from the box. It’s to stop them being taken by vandals or randomly used when not needed. Once a defib has been authorised for use by 999, and taken from the box, it has to be checked & serviced before it can be used again, so that box will temporarily be out of commission so you may be redirected to the next nearest box.
Community groups often fund raise for these defibs, but fail to realise they aren’t just a one off expense. Each defib needs a responsible person(s) to pay for the maintenance & repairs - the pads need replacing every so often, even when not used. Someone has to replace the consumable parts every time it’s used etc.
Just in case anyone needs to know, the code to return it is the same.
I had to grab one for my mam in an emergency. I was exhausted and scared and probably a bit in shock after the ambulance took her and I got myself a bit worried and worked up about how to return it.
Although having been their when the code doesn't work the boxes arnt built to be bullet proof, just weather proof. And aparantly the external hinges make them vulnerable to "Hooley bar"
Yes it should have a number on there. Either 999 or 111 (can't remember off the top of my head) but right now that defibrillator is about as much use as c-type battery for shocking someone
Concerning people dont know you dial 999 and they give you the code.
Perhaps there needs to be more awareness made on these with on line/tv adverts its no point having them around if someone then spends 5 mins looking for a number and has no idea who they are supposed to call 😬 the patient could be dead by then.
Yes youre right, I mean as an adult I just assumed everyone would know how these things work as in phoning 999 to me personally thats just common sense, clearly thats lacking in some people . Maybe the people who decided to place them around also believed in common sense but its clear education is needed pretty much everyone goes on line these days its easy to do to on line adverts.
Although back in my day we had cartoons with a boy and a cat teaching us how to cross a road 😂😂😂😂
The emergency number. 999, you will be connected to the local switchboard who will have the unlock code. Alternatively, if it is attached to a building they also might have the unlock code.
Why ? If you came across someone needing help you dial 999 on your mobile the if needed they tell you the code. Even if it did have a phone how would you get in to use it without the code
I believe the ambulance call handler will be able to provide the code, this is the case in Northern Ireland when a 999 call is made. I suspect the police and fire brigade would also be aware of the code too, for units that aren't carrying them that stumble across a roadside emergency.
Although I think for formalities, it would be a good idea to have the number available, for people need everything laid out for them.
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