Together, We Can Save Lives: Harpenden Lions and Lifesaving Skills
- 12 hours ago
- 2 min read
Why CPR and Defibrillator skills matter
Cardiac arrests can happen anywhere—at home, at work, or in the places we share every day. In England, survival from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest can be as low as 5%, and it drops by 10% for every minute that passes.
With fast action, those numbers can change. Local emergency services and community training can raise survival to 60%—but it takes CPR training and pub-lic access to defibrillators (AEDs) so that help is close at hand when seconds matter.
How Harpenden Lions Help Keep Our Community Ready
Supporting Community Training
Lions clubs were founded on a simple promise: “We Serve.” In Harpenden, that promise means helping neighbours feel confident to step forward in an emergency. Harpenden Lions have partnered to actively promote free training sessions led by Vivienne Ford and her team from Harpenden Community First Responders. These practical sessions—also supported by Harpenden Town Council—help people learn skills that can keep someone alive until professional help arrives, including:
Recognising the signs of a heart attack.
Recognising when someone has suffered a cardiac arrest.
Starting CPR with strong, steady chest compressions in the centre of the chest—keeping time to the rhythm of “Stayin’ Alive.”
Using an AED (designed for anyone to use—even without training—thanks to clear voice prompts).
Placing someone in the recovery position to help keep their airway clear.
Making Defibrillators Easy to Find
Harpenden Lions are helping to ensure life-saving technology isn’t only available—it’s easy to find, even under pressure. By promoting a defibrillator map of the town and surrounding villages, they’re making it simpler for residents to locate the nearest AED quickly. The map is available at www.harpendenresponders.org.uk or at www.harpenden-lions.co.uk
“Message in a Bottle”: Helping Responders Help Faster
Alongside CPR training, the Lions’ Message in a Bottle and Message in a Wallet scheme offers another simple way to protect those who may be most at risk. It encourages vulnerable residents to keep key medical details in a clearly marked bottle in their fridge. In an emergency, this can help responders quickly understand medical history and medications—saving precious time when every second counts.
Get involved—be ready to save a life
“The only thing worse than doing CPR ‘wrong’ is doing nothing at all. You cannot make the situation worse for someone in cardiac arrest; you can only help.”
If you find someone who is unconscious and not breathing normally, your actions can buy them time:
Call 999 immediately.
Start CPR: Learn the technique and be ready to act—strong, steady compressions can keep blood flowing until help arrives.
Know how to find and use an AED: Find out where your nearest defibrillators are. In an emergency, the 999 call handler can also guide you to the closest AED and talk you through what to do.
Volunteer and help keep the heart of Harpenden beating strongly. Whether it’s supporting a fundraising drive for a new AED or helping to distribute “Message in a Bottle/Message in a Wallet” kits, your time and energy could be the reason someone gets home to their family. For more information, please complete the contact us form
