SECAmb welcomes BHF campaign

When a person collapses, the response taken by bystanders can make the difference between life and death.

So SECAmb heartily welcomes the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) campaign, launched this week, that promotes hands-only CPR. Since 2004, we have seen the benefits of focussing on effective chest compressions through Protocol C - our pioneering resuscitation procedure.

‘No more kissing – just hard and fast CPR to the Bee Gees,’ is what the BHF is recommending and the use of effective compressions to a fast rhythm – 100 beats a minute - is the underlying principle of Protocol C. In fact, when providing advice over the phone to a 999 caller, prior to the arrival of the ambulance crew, staff in SECAmb’s three Emergency Dispatch Centres (EDCs) use a metronome to count out the rhythm – ensuring the CPR being provided is as effective as possible.

Every member of staff in the EDC has a small metronome on their desk and all front-line vehicles are equipped with portable metronomes to assist ambulance clinicians in providing effective compressions. The use of metronomes has proved so effective that they are now used in ambulance control centres worldwide.

Initially introduced into Sussex, Protocol C was the initiative of Professor Douglas Chamberlain, world-renowned cardiologist and Honorary Medical Advisor to SECAmb and Brighton paramedic Dave Fletcher. It differs from previous resuscitation practice in that it enables paramedics to respond more effectively to cardiac arrests by keeping their focus on optimum effect chest compressions. From 2006 onwards, it was rolled out across Surrey and Kent also.

Since the introduction of Protocol C into SECAmb, there has been a noticeable improvement across the Trust in terms of the number of patients achieving ROSC (Return of Spontaneous Circulation) – when a patient starts to make respiratory effort after a cardiac arrest. A recent study, which looked at patients over a two year period in the Brighton and Hove area, found that whilst using Protocol C, 60% of patients with heart disease whose hearts had stopped arrived in hospital with a pulse and out of these nearly 50% survived to discharge. Although we are unable to prove that this high success rate was down to Protocol C alone, the figures are very good by international standards and appreciably better than any others within the UK. As a result, three other Trusts are now considering implementing Protocol C.

Dr Jane Pateman, SECAmb’s Medical Director said: “Within SECAmb, we are keen to do everything possible to give patients the best outcome. The BHF’s campaign is a memorable way to promote a really important message, and hopefully will give people the confidence to make that vital difference in the seconds and minutes that matter.”