Taxi drivers trained to give life-saving CPR

A clinical trial company has just trained its first group of taxi drivers to deliver cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Richmond Pharmacology, in London Bridge, has trained six cab drivers in chest compressions and the use of a defibrillator in a scheme which aims to equip them with skills to save the lives of their passengers.

The taxi drivers are all employed by London Airport Taxis, used by Richmond Pharmacology to transport patients to and from their clinical trials at the organisation’s clinical centre in Newcommen Street.

The programme intends to offer CPR training to all 30 London Airport Taxis drivers who transport patients involved in clinical trials.

Richmond Pharmacology specialises in trials of gene editing drugs that might provide new treatments for rare diseases. Many of the patients coming to the clinic are elderly and some have heart disease.

Paul Mulholland, a taxi driver with 32 years’ experience who completed the Richmond training, said he had previously been involved in emergency situations which had only ended positively after other people had intervened.  

He said: “The training was very informative, really thorough and a bit of an eye-opener. I found the whole thing very clear, and I feel more confident now in delivering this basic first aid. 

“I think it’s vital if you’re taking patients. You’ve got to have that background basic knowledge, and it’s great that Richmond is supplying it.”

The training, which was based on Resuscitation Council UK 2021 guidelines, was led by Richmond’s head of acute clinical management, Carolina Pacheco De Amorim, a former intensive care nurse.

She said: “Here at Richmond we have a close relationship with the taxi drivers who transfer our clinical trial participants, so it is very important to us that they know how to act in case of an emergency. 

“These life-saving skills can make such a difference if someone goes into cardiac arrest and we plan to offer refresher courses so that the drivers can keep up their skills and confidence.” 

Ms Pacheo De Amorim told the group that using the automated external defibrillator (AED) within three minutes of a cardiac arrest can produce survival rates as high as 50 to 70 per cent. 

In contrast, every minute of waiting time after collapse without CPR taking place, reduces survival chances by 10 per cent.

AEDs are very easy to use as they give clear, voiced instructions and can be found in stations, libraries, supermarkets and public phone boxes. 

The British Heart Foundation provides a free online 15-minute course on CPR – Learn CPR in 15 minutes | RevivR | BHF – BHF.

For more information on CPR training, including how to use an AED, visit the Resuscitation Council UK website: https://www.resus.org.uk

Pictured top: Taxi driver Marc Limrick completing his training under the eye of instructor, Carolina Pacheco De Amorim (Picture: Richmond Pharmacology)