St John Ambulance Cymru is stressing the literally lifesaving importance of CPR and defibrillator skills this February, with the charity’s volunteers having helped save the lives of four people at public events last year alone.
The first aid charity for Wales’ annual Defibruary campaign is providing more ways for people to learn lifesaving skills and find out where their nearest defibrillator is, so they can act quickly should a cardiac arrest happen nearby.
This year’s campaign includes opportunities to take part in hands-on demonstrations, learn online, highlight defib locations, as well as donate to support the charity’s work to make Wales a community of lifesavers.
Though there are now over 8,500 publicly accessible defibrillators in Wales, recent research suggests only 25% of people had been trained to use them and they were only used in 8% of cases when someone suffered a cardiac arrest outside of hospital.
Chris Edwards, who collapsed just metres from the finish line of the 2025 Porthcawl 10K after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest, is one those who survived thanks to the use of CPR and a defibrillator by St John Ambulance Cymru volunteers.
St John Ambulance Cymru Chief Executive and Paramedic , Richard Lee said:
“The aim of our Defibruary campaign is to make sure more people have the skills to help if someone near them goes into cardiac arrest, including knowing how to find where their nearest defibrillator is, which can help save vital seconds.
“Though St John People provided medical cover at around 1,000 public events last year and helped save four lives as a result, over 70% of cardiac arrests happen at home.
“With the chances of survival reducing by 10% with every minute that passes without action, it’s crucial that people know how to perform CPR and where to find their nearest defibrillator. This will give your family, neighbours, friends and visitors the best chance of survival and buy crucial time for medical assistance to arrive.
“Even if you’ve completed training before, it’s worth brushing up on your knowledge so you are aware of the latest advice, with the UK Resuscitation Council having released updated guidelines at the end of last year.”
To help raise awareness of where defibs are located your community, St John Ambulance Cymru has launched a #DogsAtDefibs social media campaign, where people can post a photo of their pooch next to a defib while they’re out for a wander.
You can check where your nearest defibrillators are located via The Circuit’s Defib Finder website: www.defibfinder.uk.
To support St John Ambulance Cymru’s Defibruary campaign, text DEFIB to 70480 to donate £5. Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message, and you’ll be opting into hearing more from us.
If you would like to donate but don’t wish to hear more from us, please text DEFIBNOINFO instead.
To find out more about St John Ambulance Cymru’s Defibruary campaign, including where public events are taking place, visit www.sjacymru.org.uk/defibruary.
Pobl yng Nghymru yn cael eu hannog i sicrhau bod eu sgiliau achub bywyd yn gyfredol yn ystod Defibruary
Mae St John Ambulance Cymru yn pwysleisio pwysigrwydd achub bywydau sgiliau CPR a diffibriliwr ym mis Chwefror eleni, gyda gwirfoddolwyr yr elusen wedi helpu i achub bywydau pedwar o bobl mewn digwyddiadau cyhoeddus y llynedd yn unig.
Mae ymgyrch flynyddol Defibruary elusen cymorth cyntaf Cymru yn darparu mwy o ffyrdd i bobl ddysgu sgiliau achub bywyd a darganfod ble mae eu diffibriliwr agosaf, fel y gallant weithredu'n gyflym pe bai ataliad ar y galon yn digwydd gerllaw.
Mae ymgyrch eleni yn cynnwys cyfleoedd i gymryd rhan mewn sesiynau ymarferol, dysgu ar-lein, tynnu sylw at leoliadau diffibriliwr, yn ogystal â rhoi i gefnogi gwaith yr elusen i wneud Cymru yn gymuned o achubwyr bywyd.
Er bod dros 8,500 o ddiffibrilwyr cyhoeddus bellach wedi'i leoli yng Nghymru, mae ymchwil diweddar yn awgrymu mai dim ond 25% o bobl oedd wedi cael hyfforddiant i'w defnyddio a dim ond mewn 8% o achosion y cawsant eu defnyddio pan gafodd rhywun ataliad ar y galon y tu allan i'r ysbyty.
Chris Edwards, a gwympodd ychydig fetrau o linell derfyn y Porthcawl 10K yn 2025 ar ôl dioddef ataliad ar y galon sydyn, yw un o'r rhai a oroesodd diolch i sgiliau CPR a diffibriliwr gwirfoddolwyr St John Ambulance Cymru.
Dywedodd Prif Weithredwr St John Ambulance Cymru, Richard Lee, sydd hefyd yn Barafeddyg:
“Nod ein hymgyrch Defibruary yw sicrhau bod gan fwy o bobl y sgiliau i helpu os bydd rhywun yn agos atynt yn cael ataliad ar y galon, gan gynnwys gwybod sut i ddod o hyd i ble mae eu diffibriliwr agosaf, a all helpu i arbed eiliadau hanfodol.
“Er bod Pobl St John wedi darparu gorchudd meddygol mewn tua 1,000 o ddigwyddiadau cyhoeddus y llynedd ac wedi helpu i achub pedwar bywyd o ganlyniad, mae dros 70% o ataliadau ar y galon yn digwydd gartref.
“Gyda’r siawns o oroesi yn lleihau 10% gyda phob munud sy’n mynd heibio heb i gamau gael eu cymryd, mae’n hanfodol bod pobl yn gwybod sut i wneud CPR a ble i ddod o hyd i’w diffibriliwr agosaf. Bydd hyn yn rhoi’r cyfle gorau i’ch teulu, cymdogion, ffrindiau ac ymwelwyr oroesi ac yn prynu amser hollbwysig i gymorth meddygol gyrraedd.
“Hyd yn oed os ydych chi wedi cwblhau hyfforddiant o’r blaen, mae’n werth adolygu eich dealltwriaeth fel eich bod chi’n ymwybodol o’r cyngor diweddaraf, gyda Chyngor Adfywio’r DU wedi diweddaru ei ganllawiau ddiwedd y llynedd.”
Er mwyn helpu i godi ymwybyddiaeth o ble mae diffibrilwyr wedi'u lleoli yn eich cymuned, mae St John Ambulance Cymru wedi lansio ymgyrch cyfryngau cymdeithasol #DogsAtDefibs, lle gall pobl bostio llun o'u ci wrth ymyl diffibriliwr tra byddant allan am dro.
Gallwch wirio ble mae eich diffibrilwyr agosaf wedi'u lleoli drwy wefan Defib Finder, sydd wedi'i reoli gan The Circuit: www.defibfinder.uk.
I gefnogi ymgyrch Defibruary St John Ambulance Cymru, anfonwch neges destun DEFIB i 70480 i roi £5. Bydd negeseuon testun yn costio'r swm rhodd ynghyd ag un neges gyfradd rhwydwaith safonol, a byddwch yn dewis clywed mwy gennym.
Os hoffech chi gyfrannu ond nad ydych chi eisiau derbyn mwy o ddiweddariadau gennym ni, anfonwch neges destun at DEFIBNOINFO yn lle hynny.
I gael gwybod mwy am ymgyrch Defibruary St John Ambulance Cymru, gan gynnwys ble mae sesiynau cyhoeddus yn digwydd, ewch i www.sjacymru.org.uk/defibruary.
