Emergency highlights the importance of life support training
The importance of basic life support training was highlighted recently when a Trust practitioner answered a call for help following a cardiac arrest emergency, just hours after attending a basic life support or BLS training course.
Liam Button is the infection prevention lead practitioner for the Trust.
He recently took part in a basic life support training session for Trust staff. The training was delivered by Kate Hawkins. She is an acute deterioration and resuscitation lead for the Trust's resuscitation team.
Shortly after arriving home, Liam received a notification via the GoodSAM app on his phone that there had been a cardiac arrest nearby.
He explains:
I could not believe that after returning home following my BLS training that morning, my GoodSAM app went off for the first time.
There was a cardiac arrest at a home just round the corner. There was also an off-duty paramedic who had received the same alert. Together, we administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). We used an automated external defibrillator (AED) to try and restart the heart before an ambulance could arrive.
He added:
It's such a valuable app and refreshing my BLS training that morning helped.
Kate says:
After attending the BLS training, Liam had the confidence to attend the incident.
Knowing CPR, how to use an AED, and being on apps like GoodSAM can literally be the difference between life and death in an emergency.
Learning these skills means you're prepared to act in the critical first minutes of an emergency, when intervention matters most. It's one of the most practical and impactful ways to help others in real life.
Here's why each factor matters:
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
When someone's heart stops (cardiac arrest), blood, and therefore oxygen, stops reaching the brain. Organ damage begins within minutes. CPR keeps blood flowing artificially until the heart can be restarted.
AED (Automated External Defibrillator)
An AED is a device that can restart the heart by delivering a controlled electric shock. Many cardiac arrests are caused by abnormal rhythms (like ventricular fibrillation). An AED is the only way to correct that rhythm. Modern AEDs are designed for the public. They guide you step by step and will not shock unless it's needed.
GoodSAM app
The app alerts trained volunteers nearby when someone is in cardiac arrest. Emergency services cannot always arrive instantly, so having someone close who knows CPR and can access an AED dramatically improves survival odds. The GoodSam app is linked to South West Ambulance Service, so you become part of a rapid-response network.