30/10/2026
Well done to one of our amazing regulars Nicola!
You should be very proud of yourseld💖
Senior Clinical Advisor Nicola was shopping at her local supermarket when she heard someone calling for a first aider. She found a man who had collapsed and gone into cardiac arrest.
With an ambulance already on its way, Nicola immediately began CPR and asked the supermarket’s first aider to fetch the defibrillator. She delivered three shocks and the man initially showed signs of life before his heart stopped again. After a fourth shock, and with support from the ambulance crew, his heart began beating again. He survived.
Nicola had not performed CPR in a real-life situation since working on the frontline in 2016, she stressed the importance of everyone knowing how to : “It shows that you don’t have to be practising CPR all the time to get a good outcome. It’s something anyone can learn and do when someone collapses and their heart stops beating
In her current role, Nicola provides clinical advice to people who ring 999 for an ambulance. During a recent call, a patient went into cardiac arrest while she was speaking to her son. Using secure video technology, Nicola confirmed what was happening and guided him through CPR.
“I sent a link to the son’s phone so we could have a secure video call. I was able to give him CPR instructions and live feedback on his hand position and the depth and speed of the chest compressions. When the crew arrived, they were able to get her heart beating again. That effective, immediate CPR was integral to the outcome.”
From Monday we'll be marking , keep up with our socials to read more stories about our 999, 111 and Patient Transport control room staff.
