Story
Following my failed attempt at running last years Run Norwich after suffering a cardiac arrest, now that I’ve been patched up, I thought I’d have another go at getting over the finishing line!
Since last August I have undergone heart bypass surgery and now the doctors have officially signed me off. I am now getting back to running ways and increasing my physical activity.
I’ve entered Run Norwich 2018 and I’m going to be running it with Dale Gedge, the paramedic who saved my life, Dr Ian Williams, the cardiologist from the NNU Hospital (my insurance policy!), my wife Rebecca, my children, Jack and Emily and her fiancé, Ian.
Run Norwich is a great event, organised by the Community Sports Foundation (CSF), using sport to help so many people in the area. I am so grateful to them for helping me last year, along with so many other amazingly talented and kind people, so I’m hoping to raise some money for the CSF in order to give something back.
Aside from the CSF, I also want to raise awareness to the importance of CPR. Even if they’re not fully trained in it, it vital to give it a go if you see someone who is not breathing. Sometimes people will run away from it because they don’t want to feel guilt if it goes wrong, but that person will be dead anyway if you don’t help.Below is the advice on what to do if you find someone unresponsive:
• If you find somebody unresponsive and not breathing, call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
• Make sure you know the address or location of where you are. We can’t send an ambulance until we have that information.
• Shake and shout to ascertain if the person will respond to you.
• Tilting their head back, check for normal breathing for no more than 10 seconds.
• If the person is still unresponsive and not breathing properly (i.e occasional gasps) start CPR and shout to see if anybody has a defibrillator nearby.
• Give 30 chest compressions. This allows blood to be pumped around the body.
• Don’t worry about making the situation worse, it can’t get any worse than cardiac arrest.
• By starting CPR, you are at least doubling that person’s chances of survival.