Wednesday 24 October 2007

Cemetery safeguards funeral goers

Waitakere Cemetery and Crematorium now has a heart defibrillator - just to be on the safe side.

It is not uncommon at cemeteries for congregation members to have a heart attack while attending the funeral of a loved one.

"There hasn't been an actual heart attack at Waikumete, in the memory of any current staff but it will happen one day, and so we decided that we should be prepared" says cemetery manager Daniel Sales

"As the nearest St John Ambulance is some distance away, we decided it would be helpful to train staff to be able to assist in case someone collapses with a heart attack. It could possibly save a life," says Mr Sales.

It has been proven that anyone having a heart attack stands a good chance of survival if treated with a defibrillator immediately, rather than waiting for the paramedics.

"We questioned where they are kept and why not at the cemetery? We deal with people who are under a lot of stress and as such could suffer an attack," says Mr Sales.

Three staff members have been trained to use the defibrillator.

Mr Sales says he is unaware of other New Zealand cemeteries keeping the lifesaving device handy.

ENDS

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