Unfortunately there has been a couple of incidents in Lanzarote recently where a defibrillator may have saved a life. It’s highlighted a need for residents and tourists to be able to access information on where the closest defibrillator is situated in an emergency.
We were contacted by Patricia, a resident on the island who sadly lost her husband, Stuart suddenly last month after suffering a cardiac arrest whilst he was at work in Puerto del Carmen. A GoFundMe page has been set up in the name of Stuart’s Prevention Plan with the aim of raising funds to help local business to purchase defibrillators and complete certified training to give them the knowledge and expertise to use the equipment in an emergency until local services can take over.
Ariadna App
There is a mobile Spanish App https://ariadna.fundaciondelcorazon.com/ which is a collaborative map of defibrillators located in Spain. Volunteers can upload the geolocation of Automated External Defibrillators (AED) in public & private spaces. This project is an initiative of Sociedad Española de Cardiología, Fundación Española del Corazón and Crus Roja Española. Ariadna is a heroine character by Agatha Ruiz de la Prada.
Who can operate a defibrillator?
In the Canary Islands doctors, nurses and EMT staff are authorised (Decree 137/2008). Plus citizens who have an accredited training course (Decree 157/2015). In the case of an emergency and in the absence of the above, any citizen (after first alerting the emergency services via 112) can be instructed to use a device.
Canary Islands Map
There is also this map for the Canary Islands https://lpgc.es/desfibriladores/ showing the location of defibrillators across the Canaries.
What we know is that there are many more defibrillators in Lanzarote than depicted on the app and map mentioned above. Take time to note the location when you see one, they can be found in hotels, schools, official buildings, lifeguard huts, tourist attractions, bars and restaurants, amongst other places.
Life can change in an instant, we sincerely hope that you never need one when visiting Lanzarote.
Fund raising events:
