First aid at hand on the beach with Elche’s new defibrillators

FIVE defibrillators have been installed on the beaches of Elche to offer immediate assistance in cases of cardiac arrest amongst swimmers and bathers.
These devices have been placed on the beaches of Arenales, El Altet, Carabassí, La Marina and El Rebollo with first responders being trained in their use.
According to the Spanish Society of Medicine and Safety, in Spain it is estimated that each year more than 30,000 cardiac arrests occur, representing four times more deaths than traffic accidents.
Defibrillators greatly increase the chances of successful resuscitation when used in the first few minutes and their installation on the beaches was announced by the town hall in March.
Elche is not the first city to feature these medical devices with Alicante and Benidorm already having them on the beaches.