Portsmouth residents received a welcome opportunity to learn vital lifesaving skills when military co-responder Nathan Mounsey joined Portsmouth City Council’s mobile library and Public Health Portsmouth for a special Health and Wellbeing Day in Paulsgrove on Monday 24 November.
The event – the first in a series of planned community engagement activities aimed at reducing health inequalities in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) — brought together families, children, and adults for hands-on demonstrations and conversations about what do in an emergency. These activities form part of the Community Resilience grant programme awarded to SCAS Charity by NHS Charities Together.
Throughout the day, Nathan engaged with visitors of all ages, sharing clear and practical information on how to access emergency services, demonstrating CPR techniques, and showing how to safely use a defibrillator. Residents also had the chance to step inside the rapid response vehicle, gaining insight into the lifesaving equipment and support available across the community.
Reflecting on the day, Nathan said:
“I was proud to be a military co-responder working alongside Public Health Portsmouth and Portsmouth City Council. It gave me great satisfaction to be able to share lifesaving information with our local community.”
On Monday 1 December, Nathan was joined by community first responder, Carol Carter. Over 100 pupils came out from the local school to meet Nathan and Carol and view the SCAS vehicle.
These events mark the beginning of a broader programme of outreach designed to build confidence, awareness, and early-intervention capability across Portsmouth — key steps in improving outcomes for cardiac arrest outside of hospital.