Tha fhathast cus aineolas mu thimcheall dèiligeadh le greim-cridhe

Nuair a chaidh a’ bhuidheann Lucky2BHere a stèidheachadh ann an 2007 bha aon smuain shoilleir aca: “Ma shàbhaileas sinn fiù ‘s beatha aon duine, ’s math as fhiach a bhith ris”.

Chaidh a bhuidheann a’ stèidheachadh le Ross Cowie às an t-Eilean Sgitheanach

[English-language version below]

Bhiodh e cothromach a ràdh gum biodh e duilich dhaibh an-diugh a dhol a chunntadh na tha de dhaoine nach biodh idir ann mura biodh an obair a tha iad air a dhèanamh.

Tha iad air na mìltean de dì-fhibrilichean a sgaoileadh a-mach, fiù ‘s gu na sgìrean as iomallaiche, agus àireamh mhòr de dhaoine air a dhol tro na cùrsaichean treànaidh aca.

Chaidh a' bhuidheann a stèidheachadh le Ross Cowie às an Eilean Sgitheanach, a theab bàsachadh e fhèin an dèidh greim-cridhe.

‘S e an dearg fhortan a dh’fhàg nach do bhàsaich e (thurchair carbad-eiridinn a bhith a’ dol seachad) agus thug e air smaoineachadh cho fortanach ‘s a bha e, ach cuideachd carson fo shealbh nach eil an aon uidheamachd ri fhaighinn fad ‘s farsaing.

A’ tòiseachadh san Eilean Sgitheanach, cha robh e fada gus na ghluais an obair fad is farsaing agus a’ cur air adhart cùrsaichean treànaidh cuideachd .

Chaidh an obair aca a shoillearachadh aon uair eile aig an deireadh-sheachdain nuair a shiubhail sgioba ball-coise bho na h-eileanan, iad gu lèir nas sine na 40 bliadhna a dh’aois, sìos dhan Eaglais Bhric airson geama beag càirdeil agus beagan spòrs.

Leis a’ gheam faisg air a’ chrìoch, ‘s ann a thàinig greim-cridhe air fear dhe na cluicheadairan aig an Eaglais Bhric. Gu fortanach, bha cuideachadh ri làimh – agus an cuideachadh ceart.

B’ e neach-eiridinn a bh’ ann an dithis dhe na cluicheadairean Leòdhasach agus bha fear eile na nurs. Anns an sgioba eile, bha poileas is fear-smàlaidh. Eadarra, bha fios aca dè bu chòirear a dhèanamh agus càite an robh dì-fhibriliche.

Chaidh beatha an duine a shàbhaladh, bha e air a thighinn timcheall mus tàinig an carbad-eiridinn.

Sa mhòr chuid de shuidheachaidhean, ged-tà, cha bhi cuideigin proifiseanta ri làimh agus cha bhi e cho furasta dèiligeadh ri suidheachadh èiginneach.

Ach, ‘s e fìrinn na cùise gun urrainnear uidheamachd a chur an sàs glè fhurasta le duine sam bith agus fiù ’s, le stiùireadh thairis air a' fòn bho chuideigin meidigeach… ach sin ma tha fhios iad sa chiad àite càite a bheil dì-fhibriliche agus ma tha tè faisg air làimh.

Tha mapa air-loidhne ri fhaighinn a sheallas cà'il an uidheamachd as fhaisge, ach cò mheud againn a b’ urrainn a ràdh gum biodh sinn cho ciallach nar n-inntinn agus gum biodh an lèirsinn sin againn ann an suidheachadh èiginneach.

Tha Lucky2BHere rim moladh airson na tha iad air a dhèanamh, ach ‘s e fìrinn na cùise g’ eil mòran fhathast ri dhèanamh – gach cuid ann a bhith a’ sgaoileadh farsaingeachd nan dì-fhibrilichean agus cuideachd, a' cur ann an inntinn dhaoine g’ eil uallach orra iad fhèin oideachadh ann an dè bu chòir a dhèanamh.

Chan eil e ro dhuilich, cha toir e ro fhada agus aig a’ cheann thall, ‘s dòcha gun sabhail e beatha chuideigin aig àm a' choireigin. ‘S dòcha fiù’s an duine is fhaisge dhaibh.

English-language version:

When the Lucky2BHere charity was formed back in 2007, it had one central guiding philosophy – “even if we save one life it will all have been worthwhile”. All these years later, they’ll probably struggle to count the number of individuals who owe their existence today to their work. Over 700 defibrillators have been delivered across Scotland as the scope of their work expands, even to the most remote communities, with accompanying training courses being organised at the same time.

The charity was established by Ross Cowie from Skye, whose own life had been saved by a defibrillator after he suffered a cardiac arrest from a heart condition. It was only through sheer fortune that he survived – an ambulance happened to be passing at the time – and it got Ross thinking about how lucky he was (hence the name of the charity), but also why such a crucial life-saving device was not commonly available.

Starting off his work in Skye, where his personal standing ensured a high profile, he soon moved to all parts of the Highlands and now even across Scotland, raising money, organising training courses and installing defibrillators. The importance of their work was again highlighted last weekend when a group of footballers from Lewis aged over 40 travelled down to play a team from Falkirk in a sociable friendly.

As the game wound to a close, one of the opposing players suddenly collapsed. Fortunately help was at hand – two of the Lewis team are paramedics and a third a nurse. And within the Falkirk team were a police officer and firefighter who knew a defibrillator was close by. The man’s life was saved; he was brought round before the ambulance arrived.

In the vast majority of cases, however, such professional help will not be readily at hand, so the chances of survival are somewhat less. But the truth is a defibrillator can be deployed easily by anyone, perhaps with instructions from ambulance staff over the phone… that is however if you know where one is in the first place.

There is an online map which guides you to the nearest location, but how many of us, hand on heart, would have that clear thinking in an emergency? Lucky2BHere deserves enormous credit for what they have achieved over the last 16 years, but as they readily admit there is still so much still to be done – not least in reminding people of their own personal responsibility in knowing what to do and arming themselves with basic CPR skills.

It’s not a huge undertaking and could well save a life – maybe even someone closest to us.