23 hours Ago
A man who was first on the scene of a cardiac arrest has saved a patient's life. Cub and Scout leader, Callum Hawker, was alerted by the GoodSAM app in January after reports of a cardiac arrest in Crawley. GoodSAM is an app used by the South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) to alert trained responders to cardiac arrests within a 500-metre radius.
It allows 999 call handlers to alert first-aid trained, local volunteers to perform CPR and/or bring a defibrillator to the scene of an arrest and minimise the time a patient spends without receiving CPR. Callum, who has a Level Four Certificate in First Response Emergency Care, was on the scene of the incident within minutes and was able to deliver care including a shock with his own defibrillator prior to the arrival of ambulance crews. Callum’s actions were praised by the SECAmb team when he visited the Trust’s Gatwick Make Ready Centre recently.
Callum was able to discuss GoodSAM with the SECAmb team and added his voice to those calling for more people to learn CPR. He said: "I’m really pleased to have been able to put the skills I have learned into practice and help someone in a real-life situation. "I would encourage others who have undertaken official training to consider signing up to become a GoodSAM responder.
"Getting to someone to provide chest compressions ahead of the ambulance service can make all the difference. "I’m pleased I could help, and I will be using the incident as an example for our cubs and scouts so they can see the difference providing CPR can make." Attending student critical care paramedic, Kirsten Reid said: "Callum’s quick response was vital.
"He swiftly made his way to the scene and did everything right to give the patient the best chance of survival. "Providing the patient with a shock prior to our arrival was so important. "He did a great job and should be really proud.
" With less than one in 10 out-of-hospital cardiac arrest victims surviving in the UK, Callum’s actions highlight the vital role CPR and defibrillation play in the minutes following cardiac arrest. GoodSAM acceptance has been associated with a threefold increase in survival and Callum’s quick response demonstrates how effective the technology can be in critical situations. Operating unit manager, David Hawkins, has been key in the development of the use of GoodSAM across SECAmb.
He said: "The minutes after a cardiac arrest are crucial. "Giving someone early CPR in those minutes can save their life. "Callum is a prime example of how effective the use of the GoodSAM app can be within our communities and he should be extremely proud of his actions.
"It’s like having a ‘shout for help’ in your pocket albeit with a wider radius." Thanks to the skill of colleagues right across the Trust, including our dedicated volunteer community first responders, emergency operations centre teams and frontline ambulance crews along with members of the public, like Callum, who have provided life-saving CPR prior to ambulance crews’ arrival, an amazing 307 lives were saved in the 12 months between April 2023 and March 2024. The Trust is encouraging everyone to learn how to save a life and asking colleagues and members of the public with first aid training to consider signing up to the GoodSAM app.
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