2nd April Cardiac arrest survivor thanks lifesaving Coverack pub staff A HOLIDAYMAKER has returned to Coverack to say thank you to the people who saved his life when he suffered a cardiac arrest four months earlier. Michael Priestley, 80, from Charmouth in Dorset has revisited the Paris Hotel, where quick-thinking staff gave CPR and used a defibrillator to keep him alive until emergency services arrived. Michael and his wife Joanne had been holidaying on the Lizard Peninsula last November when they visited Coverack and popped into the Paris Hotel for a drink. Shortly after returning from the bar Michael keeled over at the table and his wife Joanne immediately shouted for help. Jas Darnell, 21, a waitress at the Paris Hotel, called other members of staff to come to Michael’s aid while she called the emergency services. Emily Darnell, 19, and Rob Ford, 25, found Michael still slumped against the window at his table. He wasn’t breathing so they moved him to the floor and Emily's checks revealed there was no pulse, so they began CPR. Meanwhile, a bystander ran to the harbour to get the public access defibrillator. Rob then followed the voice prompts to deliver two shocks. He has since praised how useful the prompts were in helping him save Michael, as the last time he did any CPR was on a practice manikin while in the scouts as a young boy. The pair then continued with CPR until Adam Martin, a first responder with the fire service, arrived. He found that Michael now had a pulse but he was still not breathing adequately, so Adam gave support until he was breathing regularly on his own. Michael was airlifted to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro and has since received further treatment in March at the Dorchester Hospital in Dorset, but said he was now feeling much better. Back at the Paris Hotel, Michael said he couldn’t remember much about that day, only that he had sat on the wall reading his paper then went in for a drink; the next thing he remembers is waking up in hospital the next day. Michael’s wife Joanne said she could only remember that Michael keeled over and she shouted for help, then hearing Jas make the phone call to emergency services. She has no recollection of what was happening on the floor around her. When asked how it felt to be sitting there with a man that would not be alive if he hadn’t come to his aid that day, Rob said: "Incredible, I can’t really explain how I feel." The machine used was one of two in Coverack that were bought from money raised by an appeal by Pam Patten, following the sudden passing of her husband Barry from a heart attack in 2012. The first machine was installed in the Coverack Information Point by the seafront while the second was placed outside the Paris Hotel, bought through the Ronnie Richards Memorial Charity in Penzance. Unfortunately, Coverack lost one of its defibrillators in the recent Storm Emma, but Michael has donated a new one to the community who helped him thanks to the company Physio Control Heartsine, which made the equipment used, allowing a survivor of a cardiac arrest to donate a new defibrillator to any organisation of their choice, through its Forward Hearts Programme. Vanessa Millar runs free defibrillator training and refresher sessions in Coverack throughout the year, with more than 150 people now trained. The defibrillator’s instructions mean training is not necessary to use it but survival rates dramatically increase if you are familiar with how one works. Chances of survival can be up to 80 per cent for public access defibrillators use by someone familiar with how it works.

Good Morning All - Amazing successful fundraising event at St Ives Royal British Legion yesterday evening that raised £1,600!! - My press article: RRMC Co Founder & Secretary PaulWilliams: "Following the amazing fundraising efforts by St Uny C Of E Academy, Carbis Bay (children choir singing Tesco, Carbis Bay £181.28 and non uniform day £250) and St Ives Royal British Legion (£1,600) a community PAD has not only been secured for the school but very close to securing another much needed PAD for the local community. St Uny C Of E Academy, apart from non uniform days, are the first primary school in the UK to actually do a public fundraising event for a community PAD for their school. Indeed, it is believed that they are the first school in the UK if not Europe to do a childrens' choir fundraising event for their school's community PAD. As one St Uny Academy teacher stated it is important to get more PADs for the local community that is totally time dependent to the chances of survival to a cardiac arrest casualty. Indeed, according to the European Resuscitation Council (ERC) the chances of survival are up to 90% if a defibrillator shock is administered in the first minute thereby depreciating by 10% to 14% every minute without it. A massive tribute is given to St Ives Police Officer PC James Perkin who has been instrumental in securing PADs for St Ives and Carbis. James is very aware of the importance of PADs involved in the recent cardiac arrest save of an eight-year-old girl in St Ives. A massive well done to James Perkin, St Uny C Of E Academy, St Ives Royal British Legion and its members, and to the St Ives Times & Echo without which this amazing success story would not have happened. Working together protecting and saving lives - Best wishes Paul Williams Co Founder & Secretary Ronnie Richards Memorial Charity (RRMC)

Good Morning All - A very special event by St Uny C Of E School, Carbis Bay yesterday held at the local Tesco Store with the school children choir singing helping to raise funds for the community 24/7 external public access defibrillator (PAD) to be sited at the school. It is another of the increasing community PADs for Cornwall's schools around 50 to date that we the RRMC are on a determined drive to equip all the county's 283 schools and colleges. We have CPR & AED trained around 3000 secondary school students and over 700 teachers and all Sennen Primary School children in Basic Life Support (BLS). St Uny C Of E School sang for an hour between 12.45 pm to 1.45 pm and raised a magnificient £181.28 from thrilled customers. St Uny C Of E School are the first primary school in Cornwall, apart from and as well as a non uniform day, to actually hold a fundraising event for a community PAD at the school. Photos attached...Happy Christmas to all from St Uny C Of E School and all at the RRMC... Best wishes RRM Co Founder & Secretary Paul Williams

Good Morning All - A very special event by St Uny C Of E School, Carbis Bay yesterday held at the local Tesco Store with the school children choir singing helping to raise funds for the community 24/7 external public access defibrillator (PAD) to be sited at the school. It is another of the increasing community PADs for Cornwall's schools around 50 to date that we the RRMC are on a determined drive to equip all the county's 283 schools and colleges. We have CPR & AED trained around 3000 secondary school students and over 700 teachers and all Sennen Primary School children in Basic Life Support (BLS). St Uny C Of E School sang for an hour between 12.45 pm to 1.45 pm and raised a magnificient £181.28 from thrilled customers. St Uny C Of E School are the first primary school in Cornwall, apart from and as well as a non uniform day, to actually hold a fundraising event for a community PAD at the school. A photo and video are attached...Happy Christmas to all from St Uny C Of E School and all at the RRMC... Best wishes RRM Co Founder & Secretary Paul Williams

Good Morning All - Two special fundraising events this week for a public access defibrillator (PAD) at St Uny C of E School, Carbis Bay, St Ives - 1. St Uny School children choir singing at Tesco Store, Carbis Bay on Thursday, 7th December between 12.45 pm - 1.45pm and 2. St Ives British Legion special fundraising evening at the club from 7pm (free entry) with singing entertainment and a bumper prizes raffle and auction. (See attached poster) - Please support us for this very special cause - Thank you, Paul (Williams) Co Founder & Secretary Ronnie Richards Memorial Charity (RRMC)

Good Morning All - Another cardiac arrest under our program - District - Coverack Location - Paris Hotel Casualty - 80's male tourist Condition - Resuscitated doing well in hospital Closely linked PADs and available skilled personnel working effectively - Well done to all involved - Best wishes Paul

A successful days training with the Penponds & Barripper Riding Club at the Barripper Chapel. In the photo: Sarah Davis, Paula Reynolds, Ben Davis and Katy Davis.

Cornwall Live two articles as follows: - St Ives 8 year old cardiac arrest save Cornwall Live Article 1: - Defibrillator used to help save life of girl aged eight who collapsed in cardiac arrest in St Ives Cornwall Live Article 1: - The girl was on holiday when she collapsed in the street just down the road from a Ronnie Richards Memorial Charity emergency defibrillator An emergency kit bought through public donations has been used to save the life of an eight-year-old girl. The youngster collapsed in the street beside the harbour in St Ives of a suspected cardiac arrest. She was on holiday in the busy seaside town with her family when she collapsed on Wednesday (November 1). Just down the road was an emergency defibrillator at the Lifeboat Inn, which was paid for by the Ronnie Richards Memorial Charity. The emergency kit can be used by members of the public to give shocks to the heart. Paul Williams helped set up the fund in 2013 in memory of his brother-in-law, Ronnie, who collapsed and died while playing football in Penzance. He said: “We are proud and delighted to report that our defibrillator at the Lifeboat Inn was used on Wednesday. It was used in the cardiac arrest save of an eight-year-old girl outside a fish and chip shop. “She was on holiday with mum and dad and two siblings. I am delighted that the defibrillator was able to help save a person so young, who now has her life to look forward to.” Mr Williams added: “We have come such a long way since we launched the Ronnie Richards Memorial Charity. At the time, there was not one unit on the South Western Ambulance Trust’s operational system that to date is now a rapidly increasing nearly 220 in Cornwall and nearly 60 in Devon. “Around 9,000 people have been trained including around 3,000 secondary students in the UK at Humphry Davy School Penzance, Cape Cornwall St Just, Camborne Science & International Academy and St Ives School.” He said 14-year-old Henry Snelson from Cape Cornwall School and a 10-year-old girl each separately performed CPR on their fathers who had cardiac arrests at home, with both making full recoveries. He added: “The latest save of the 8-year-old girl makes our success extra special.” Cornwall Live Article 2: - Police officer praises off-duty nurse, fish and chip staff and paramedics who battled to save eight-year-old girl in cardiac arrest in St Ives PC James Perkin said he ran from the police station in St Ives when the call came in that the girl had collapsed. A police officer has praised customers and staff at a fish and chip shop and an unknown nurse on holiday who rushed to help an eight-year-old girl who had collapsed. PC James Perkin also gave full credit to the paramedics who worked to save her life after a suspected cardiac arrest at St Ives. Members of the public were also able to grab the defibrillator nearby, outside the Lifeboat Inn, which had been bought through donations to the Ronnie Richards Memorial Charity. The girl had collapsed on Wednesday (November 1) at the Harbour Fish and Chip Shop on Wharf Road. PC Perkin was on duty at St Ives Police Station when the drama unfolded in the afternoon. He said: “I saw the call come in and knew it was for us when it said St Ives. Then when I saw it was an eight-year-old girl in cardiac arrest I just grabbed my helmet and ran. “I was passed by the ambulance in the Market Place and when I arrived the paramedics and ambulance staff were performing CPR on the child and managed to bring her back.” “It appears that the child has a medical condition and this caused her to go into respiratory arrest leading to a cardiac arrest.” He praised the quick-thinking actions of staff and customers in the fish and chip shop. “An unknown nurse, who appears to have been on holiday and was eating a meal at a nearby table, also assisted,” he said. “I have no idea who she is but she just wanted to help, which is typical of such people. Staff at the shop also grabbed the defib from the wall behind the Lifeboat Inn. “The girl was put into the ambulance and driven to Ayr playing field where she was transferred to the air ambulance and taken to (Royal Cornwall Hospital at) Treliske. “I also have to say, the paramedics there were remarkable people. The way they working to save the girl’s life was amazing.” PC Perkin said he was called later in the evening by his police sergeant who told him that the girl’s heart was beating on its own and she was breathing unassisted. He added: “To hear she was OK was a great feeling. I was thinking about her obviously and it was a lovely thing to hear.” Paul Williams: It was very emotional changing the AED pads knowing that they had been used on one so young but a brilliant outcome - Please all reading the articles share with your friends so that the vital message of closely linked PADs and CPR & AED Training saves lives - Very best wishes Paul

Good Morning All...Attached photo RRMC recent 550 St Ives students CPR training...AED training planned for all the students early in the new year - It will bring the total of Cornwall secondary school students RRMC CPR & AED trained to around 3000 at Humphry Davy School Penzance, Cape Cornwall School St Just, Camborne Science & International Academy, and St Ives School. 14 year old Henry Snelson from Cape Cornwall School and a 10 year old girl separately performed CPR on their fathers at home with both making a full recovery from incoming AED shocks. (Henry and his father appeared on BBC Spotlight & Westcountry Television in coverage of the RRMC 200th public access defibrillator (PAD) in Cornwall - Clearly all capable young people in our schools should have CPR training that in 80% of cases cardiac arrest happens at home may be the only one in attendance and they should not have to attend school in the event of a loved one's fatality to learn that such a simple lifesaving taught skill makes all the difference as Henry and the 10 year old girl proves - Best wishes Paul (Co Founder & Secretary RRMC).