Hearty Thanks to Margaret
Cambridge Evening News
May 12th, 2005
LIFESAVER Margaret Else has been honoured for her
actions after saving a man who had two heart attacks
in his home.
The MAGPAS volunteer community first responder resuscitated
Fred Norris at his home in Ramsey on September 14th
last year. She has now been awarded a Royal Humane
Society resuscitation certificate.
Mrs Else, 54, of Upwood Road, Bury, said: "I
received a text message from the East Anglian Ambulance
Service saying a man needed medical attention."
"Fred was sitting on the sofa and looked absolutely
fine, but said he had suffered chest pains for a couple
of hours. He looked well, but when I began my routine
questioning, he felt dizzy and then had a full cardiac
arrest."
"I was immediately able to put on the pads for
the defibrillator and lift his legs up. The defibrillator
tells you exactly what to do, so there is no danger
of shocking the patient if their heart is still beating."
"I then just carried on checking his pulse and
administrating oxygen, but he was very unstable. Just
as the ambulance arrived his heart stopped again and
I had to shock him for a second time."
"Luckily he is fine now and had an operation
in Papworth Hospital a few weeks later. I see Fred
and his wife about - they are an absolutely lovely
family and they sent me a card and gift at Christmas."
Mr Norris, 47, said: "She saved my life. I am
grateful and simply would not be here if it was not
for her."
Mrs Else got involved after seeing an advert for
community first responders.
She said: "It is very rewarding, especially
because it is in our community. I must have been called
out 50 to 60 times."
"Quite often I just have to give support until
the ambulance arrives, and give plenty of reassurance
and oxygen."
The volunteers, who are all trained in first aid,
resuscitation and defibrillation, are equipped by
Cambridgeshire's emergency care charity, MAGPAS, to
provide lifesaving emergency care in communities across
the county.
Lorna Hayes, community first responder manager, said:
"This Royal Humane Society award provides tremendous
recognition for the efforts made by Margaret and all
those involved in the community first responder scheme." |
