The only immediate treatment for cardiac arrest is defibrillation. Last year The Grand Charity made a £115,000 grant to St John Ambulance to purchase Automated External Defibrillators (AED) for each of its 46 county divisions in England and the Channel Islands.
    This is laudable, although such action has raised the question of safety and first aid in masonic centres nationwide.
    Heart attacks can strike at any age, but there are many masons who fall in the "at most risk" category when one takes age and the pressures and excesses of business, private and masonic life into account.
    Within the hallowed walls of Freemasons' Hall in London is arguably a greater gathering of potential clients than elsewhere in masonry. Where better to start one's researches.
    Vance Augustin of the administration staff at Grand Lodge is one of the fully trained first-aiders on the premises. His first aid room is fully equipped with bed (hard), crash trolley, AED (recently purchased), full heart and lung failure kit, tracheotomy tubes, oxygen cylinders, nebulizers for acute asthmatic attacks, pills, potions and the like.
    There is a life-size doll called a RecusciAnne on which members of the team practice life-saving techniques each week. A full emergency situation is enacted monthly.
    Vance explains: "Up to 5pm we have a team of first-aiders in the building. After that we have the duty officer, who is also first aid trained. In an emergency the tyler will dial the front desk, and the duty officer will either instantly contact me or any other member of the team.
    "We will be directed to the lodge room and attend to the patient's needs directly. If he cannot be moved we will treat him in the lodge, Naturally, the emergency services will be notified simultaneously."
    He adds that tylers are aware of what action to take, and so are most secretaries. There are notices in lodge rooms, but it is the tyler's duty to act in the first instance.
    He continues: "On the days that Grand Lodge and Grand Chapter meet, as well as investiture, we have a doctor and two paramedics on duty."
    So how long does it take to get to the patient from the moment an alarm is raised? Vince explains: "The furthest distance would be the third floor, and we have this down to between three and five minutes."
    He says the defribillator is easy to use and self-instructive. He adds: "It can and does save lives, particularly when you bear in mind how long it can take the emergency services to arrive due to traffic congestion and the like."
    So what about the provinces? Vince says that he is sure those who regularly use such centres would be prepared to donate a small sum each to buy this equipment.
    As I attend three lodge meetings at Great Queen Street, I left there in a happy frame of mind, secure in the knowledge that my best interests are catered for."
    So what about the provinces?
    Trevor Sams is in the Craft and is managing director of Medtronic Physio-Control, who supplies the defribillators as seen in Grand Lodge. He has said that a high percentage of lodges do not have even basic first-aid skills.
    While he clearly has a vested interest in the supply of these machines, his remarks cannot be ignored. He adds: "Having visited a number of lodges, many seem oblivious to the importance of first-aid and healthcare."
    I also contacted friends in the Craft up and down the country, and virtually all I contacted were also oblivious to the availability of life-saving equipment, except for a first-aid box. Good for a cut finger, but not for cardiac arrest!
    Over the past year Trevor has received about 25 enquiries from lodges, but a worrying factor came from a letter he received from a lodge secretary.
    This read: "It was not too long ago that my committee considered appointing an official first-aider. We do have two St John's officers within our membership, and thought we ought to do something officially, but we hit a policy snag.
    "The problem was that the person we appoint could incur personal legal liability arising from the performance of his duties. We decided as a lodge not to purchase equipment, nor to make an official appointment as a first-aider.
    "This decision was not taken lightly, but with much debate. We did inquire about the possibility of effecting insurance on the part of the lodge, and to indemnify any first-aider for negligence, but the premium quoted was too expensive."
    A frustrated Trevor commented: "Anyone trained by St Johns or indeed trained in first aid by any reputable company, holds a certificate that is their base identify.
    "I have never heard of anyone carrying out first aid who is liable to an insurance claim. If that was the case, there would be a lot of nervous first-aiders around."
    He points out that the sooner treatment is initiated, the easier may be recovery. The longer the individual is in cardiac arrest, the more difficult it is to promote survival (see graph).
    Any lodge or centre having one of these machines on the premises should ensure that there is someone constantly available and skilled in first aid, resuscitation, CPR and ventilation competencies to support the advantages of defribillation.
    Perhaps lodge stewards could take on this responsibility, or even the almoner. Vince says he would welcome representatives from lodges or centres to attend practice sessions with the machines. He has training units for this purpose.
    He adds: "Familiarity and operational understanding of basic physiology and the electrical event will promote confidence in the overall concept."
    My researches have shown that some masonic centres do have appropriate life-saving devices, but they are few and far between.

[Information on Medtronic's range of life-saving equipment can be obtained by telephoning Trevor Sams on 01256 782727 or fax on 01256 782728.]