A NURSE who saved a pensioner’s life at a restaurant has demanded that all hospitality venues install a defibrillator in case customers suffer a heart attack.
Louise Smith, 33, a qualified nurse from Southend, was eating dinner at a restaurant on Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff with her family, before a 84-year-old man collapsed nearby.
The customer had suffered a suspected heart attack, and was unresponsive with no pulse, until she began CPR.
Fortunately, she was able to bring him back, but was left confused with staff and customers unaware where the nearest defibrillator was.
Just two weeks before, again at a restaurant in the town, her mother had a “funny turn”, and needed an ambulance.
The nearest defibrillator was at Gentings Casino, half-a-mile away.
Mrs Smith said: “It’s not really the restaurants fault, but there needs to be a law to ensure all hospitality venues have a defib on site, or at least nearby.
“Fortunately my mum was fine, but she had chronic pain in her chest, hence why we thought she may need one.
“The first question paramedics ask on the phone is where is the nearest defib. Nobody had any idea where one was.
“The issue needs raising, and children need educating about how important they are.
“As a nurse, you’re never off duty, and they were lucky I was there to help out.”
Mrs Smith is now considering forming a petition on the issue.
During the Newcastle versus Spurs football match on Sunday at St James Park, a fan suffered a cardiac arrest.
A defibrillator was on hand within minutes.
Mrs Smith added: “I was literally eating my dinner on Friday, when his family started screaming for help.
“Luckily he came round quite quickly in the end, and the ambulance crew were really quick.
“His family have sent me a bouquet of flowers which is really nice, but the issue isn’t about me, there’s a wider problem here at the lack of defibs.
“I know some supermarket have them, but anywhere with a defib should stick some sort of sticker or poster more clearly, to tell people where a defibrillator is.
“They’re simple to use too, they talk you through what to do.”
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