We’re proud to have recently installed an automated external defibrillator (AED) in our Hinckley Emporium shop.
It can be accessed by local people, to cut the risk of the loss of a life in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest.
The installation is all thanks to two local community grants that have helped fund the purchase of the AED and its ongoing maintenance. We want to say a big thank you to Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council’s Voluntary and Community Sector Partnership for their generous donation of £750. Thanks also to Hinckley and Bosworth Rotary Club for their contribution of £250. We’re also very grateful to national charity AEDdonate for their kind grant of £400.
In John’s memory
We decided to raise funds for the defibrillator, following the tragic passing of our Emporium’s Shop Manager, John Gall, who suffered a cardiac arrest last year.
Our Head of Operations Hayley Gall said: “John Gall, my father-in-law, very sadly passed away after suffering a heart attack whilst in the Emporium. He spent his life dedicated to helping others through his work with Emmaus, and I know John would want us to make sure we could help someone else in the future.
“We’d like to thank our local community for the grants to fund our new defibrillator. We’re now making sure as many people as possible in our team know what to do in the event of a cardiac arrest, both in terms of operating the AED and administering CPR. Eight of us have had the training so far. You hope it never needs to be used but it will greatly cut the risk of unnecessary death if it does.”
The defibrillator, in it’s distinctive yellow cabinet, can be accessed by the public and is located just inside the entrance of the homelessness charity’s Emporium shop. We’ve now registered its location with the ambulance service and will carry out regular maintenance.
The importance of defibrillators
Jamie Richards, CEO of the charity AEDdonate who provided the defibrillator said: “In the UK, over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are treated by emergency medical services every year. Approximately one in 10 people will survive this event. The survival rate decreases minute by minute after sudden cardiac arrest, if a defibrillator is applied within three minutes, there is a 70 percent chance of survival. To improve this, defibrillators must be easily accessible throughout the country.
“Defibrillators are extremely easy to use, and they provide step-by-step instructions in either verbal or visual form. They can be operated by anyone, with no prior training required.”
To find out more about fundraising for a defibrillator through AEDdonate visit: www.aeddonate.org.uk