Automatic External Defibrillator (AED)

The community AED for the village is located on the wall at the Barley Mow.

Cosgrove has three Automatic External Defibrillators (AED's) available in the event of an emergency. They are located at The Barley Mow in The Stocks, The Scout Camp at The Quarries, on Stratford Road and Cosgrove Park's gatehouse.

The defibrillators are accessible by dialing 999 or 112 from a mobile and speaking to the ambulance service. If you explain to the operator that you have a non breathing casualty, they'll recognise the need to access a defibrilator. You will advised of the nearest AED to your location and provide a 4 digit number to use to open the cabinet. The operator will stay on the line and advise how to proceed. Where help is available, CPR should be carried out on the casualty and continue while the AED is obtained. CPR continues until the AED is applied and is analysing the casualty.

The AED must be taken to the casualty as soon as possible. To use, open the bag, locate the "ON" button and switch on the AED. You will be told exactly how to use the AED. Once switched on, the device is programmed to speak clearly to the user. Follow the instructions given. Remove the patches from the holder on the back of the AED. Expose the casualty's chest, remove any metal jewellrey and apply the patches as illustrated on each patch. Plug the wires into the AED and listen to the instructions. CPR should continue until the AED tells everyone not to touch the casualty and that it is analysing the heart. Continue to follow the instructions given by the AED and continue until expert help arrives.

AED's are precision devices that are able to monitor the condition of the casualty's heart rythmns. In some circumstances, the device will not need to provide a shock and will tell the first aider to continue with CPR. This is normal and CPR must continue until the ambulance arrives and the paramedics take over.

The sudden collapse of Danish footballer Christian Eriksen following cardiac arrest, during his country's European Championship 2021 match with Finland, demonstrated the value of a quick response and the value of early application of an AED. Christian's heart was started again after receiving CPR on the pitch and an AED used to shock his heart back into rythmn.

Medical experts recommend that everyone make themselves aware of the locations of AEDs and gain confidence in their use. First Aid courses are run by The Red Cross, St John's Ambulance and private medical companies. Don't wait, check how and where you can receive instruction in CPR and using an AED.