A year after suffering a heart attack at work, Oamaru metalworker Dave Snow was yesterday learning how to possibly save someone else's life, following the conclusion of a year-long fundraising effort by workers at Gillies Metaltech to pay for a portable defibrillator.
Mr Snow (51) said the idea to raise $3250 for the life-saving kit by selling scrap metal arose during a conversation with Gillies' operation manager Noel Ward, who had also experienced heart problems at a young age.
''We were just talking about the getting back to work process and the idea came up.
''There have been a couple of historic cases in the past where it would have been good to have this around - we don't want any more `what ifs'.''
Gillies employees and workers from neighbouring businesses in the Oamaru Victorian precinct yesterday took part in a training session on how to use the defibrillator. Mr Ward said although it would be kept at the Gillies workshop, the defibrillator would also be available for use for anyone else in the area.
''We have had a few guys who have had scares and we noticed there was a need for this in this part of town.
''If someone needs it, they can come and take it if they have the training, or we will send someone with it.''
Mr Ward (40) was just 35 years old when he had to be taken to hospital with heart problems, and both he and Mr Snow urged people to have regular medical check-ups and to ''listen to your body''.
