Over the past six months, the team at Barker Dental Care have received extensive training on Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Medical Emergencies from a certified retired member of the Hampshire Ambulance Service. In addition to the CPR and Medical Emergencies training, we have also received significant training on the safe use of an Automated Electronic Defibrillation (AED) machine.

AED machines have only recently started appearing in public areas such as airports, arenas, and shopping complexes, and currently, business owners are not legally required to have an AED machine on site. Nevertheless, Tim and Amy purchased the AED machine for the practice because they believe that it is vital not simply to have the standard training and equipment should a medical emergency arise but rather to surpass the legal minimum requirements, which in this instance could save the life of one of our patients or team members should they suffer a heart attack on the premises. Studies have shown that the use of an AED machine within the first three minutes on someone experiencing cardiac arrest increases the chances of survival dramatically. The increased survival rate leaves no doubt as to the benefits of having an AED machine on site to use in conjunction with effective CPR. We certainly hope that we never have a medical emergency situation to test our skills, equipment and training in this area, but we, at Barker Dental Care, are doing everything we can to ensure that we are well trained, prepared and equipped should a medical emergency occur at our practice.