Animal instincts help save a life.

Report by the East of England Ambulance Service

An elderly man who suffered a cardiac arrest at a south Essex veterinary practice is recovering in hospital thanks to the life-saving efforts of staff and Leigh First Responder Steve Hockley.

Steve was at work last Wednesday morning when he was sent to nearby Downes Veterinary Surgeons in Leigh-on-Sea after reports the man, who had brought in his dog to see the vet, had collapsed in the surgery.

Thankfully, the staff on hand were giving very good CPR when Steve arrived just two minutes later and so he was able to get his equipment together swiftly to deliver the first of three shocks needed to bring the patient back.

He said: “The staff were doing a good job and so I asked them to continue CPR while I got the equipment out. “It shows it’s all worthwhile. It’s the second time I’ve managed to bring someone back; it’s a really good feeling to know you played a part in helping their survival.”

Steve was backed up by Brent Sylvester in a rapid response vehicle, and two ambulances with Mark Whiddon, John Claridge and Keith Coleman on board. Southend paramedic Laurie Phillipson, link manager between the ambulance service and the volunteers, praised Steve and the crews’ efforts: “I was really pleased to hear the patient survived—a big well done to them.”

Once the patient has made a full recovery, it is hoped he will be well enough to meet up with Steve and the crews, and the full story will be featured in a future Focus East.

First responder Steve beats the ambulance by five minutes.

Report by the Evening Echo

7:30am Wednesday 15th July 2009

A TEENAGE girl who suffered a heart attack at school was saved by quick-thinking staff and a volunteer medic.

The 17-year-old, who has not been named, started having a fit at Westcliff High School for Girls, then went into cardiac arrest and stopped breathing.

 “I’m trained in first aid, but we all have to have special training in using a defibrillator and oxygen. We go to anything life-threatening to ensure somebody gets there within eight minutes. Every second counts in those situations.”

First responder Steve Hockley.

Two school staff started to giving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and called for an ambulance. Community first responder Steve Hockley answered the call and was there within two minutes. The girl was put on a heart monitor and was given a shock from a defibrillator. She is now recovering in Southend Hospital.

First responder Steve, from Leigh, said: “I ran over, checked the patient, then asked the two staff members to continue CPR (mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massage) while I got the defib set up. “The machine advised me to shock the patient, so I did, did CPR.

“The rapid response team arrived and the machine then advised me to give her another shock. As I started CPR again, the crew arrived and put her onto their machine, so we could check the patient.”

By then, the girl was breathing enough for them to stop CPR. She was carried to an ambulance and taken to hospital, where she is now said to be in a stable condition.

Modest Steve, 45, from Benfleet, added: “I went back to work, but soon received a call from the doctor at the hospital, asking me to attend.

“When I arrived, he and the crew congratulated me for what I had done.”

First responders are volunteers who have everyday jobs, but drop them to answer 999 calls. Because they are local, they tend to arrive ahead of paramedics and start emergency treatment right away.

Steve, a caretaker at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Leigh, was with the patient five minutes before the ambulance.

He said: “I’m trained in first aid, but we all have to have special training in using a defibrillator and oxygen. “We go to anything life-threatening to ensure somebody gets there within eight minutes. Every second counts in those situations.”

Paramedic Laurie Phillipson, the Leigh responders’ ambulance contact, praised for Steve. He said: “It’s a credit to Steve and the community first responder scheme we get this kind of positive patient outcome.”

Westcliff High School for Girls would not talk to the Echo about the incident.

However, Jane Theadom, Southend Council’s head of school support and preventative services, said: “A pupil at Westcliff High School for Girls was taken ill on Monday morning.

“Staff acted swiftly and appropriately, the girl’s parents were contacted, an ambulance was called and the pupil is being treated in hospital.”