New defibrillators in Schorndorf: lifesavers for the community

New defibrillators in Schorndorf: lifesavers for the community

At a pleasant meeting in the Schorndorf community center, Mayor Max Schmaderer presented a new initiative to improve emergency care. In addition to the council members, district fire chief Michael Engl and representatives of the five local fire departments were also present. “The idea came from Vice Mayor Martin Bauer and the school and emergency paramedic Rupert Fichtl after we ran a course for mobile rescuers,” explained Schmaderer. Although there is already a defibrillator (Defi for short) in the Sankt Raphael residence, it turned out that access is often difficult, especially at night. It was therefore decided to install another defibrillator in a central location that can be accessed 24 hours a day.

The new defibrillator will be placed in close proximity to the church, cemetery and pub, significantly improving accessibility for first responders. “Anyone who needs a defibrillator in an emergency can take it with them to save lives,” emphasized Schmaderer. He also thanked building yard manager Matthias Brummer for the professional installation of the device and the local council for the unanimous decision to purchase it. The total costs amount to 2,136 euros for the defibrillator and 132 euros for five ventilation sets that were handed over to the fire departments. “We have decided to make this investment without fundraisers, but anyone who would still like to contribute is welcome to contact us,” the mayor added.

Training and safety in an emergency

After the official inauguration, Rupert Fichtl gave a practical introduction to the operation of the defibrillator. “In critical moments, seconds can make the difference between life and death,” explained Fichtl. The defibrillator, also known as a shock device, can be used for cardiac arrhythmias such as ventricular fibrillation to bring the heart back into a normal rhythm. “It is important that the defibrillator is quickly at hand and that someone is there who can operate it,” emphasized Fichtl. He reassured those present that the modern devices are easy and safe to use. “There is nothing better than being able to help,” he said, encouraging everyone to take action in an emergency.

In addition, Deputy Mayor Martin Bauer demonstrated the use of the resuscitator and explained the C-handle technology, which makes it possible to hold a respirator mask with one hand while pressing air into the patient's lungs with the other hand. Fichtl, who has two demo devices, is available to fire departments at any time to explain how defibrillators and ventilation sets work in individual exercises.