Working alongside SP Services we are leading the way in providing public defibrillators as a national campaign to store the lifesaving equipment in schools and sports centres goes before MPs in Parliament this week.
A total of 16 easy to use AEDs (Automated External Defibrillator) have just been installed outside of our community rooms across Shropshire in a groundbreaking move working with experienced Shropshire medical equipment supplier SP Services.
Our lifesaving initiative comes alongside a national campaign by MP Maria Caulfield, who has instigated a Bill calling for every UK school and sports centre to have a defibrillator. The Bill gets a second reading in the House of Commons on Friday, March 15th.
In a £22,000 project, we have installed the AEDs outside community rooms used by both residents and the general public. A total of 18 Shropshire groups hold events every week in our community rooms in Bridgnorth, Highley, Broseley, Gobowen, St Martins, Oswestry, Much Wenlock, Shrewsbury and Albrighton. They range from bingo to belly dancing classes in Much Wenlock, Spanish language lessons in Oswestry to ukulele practice sessions, with Age UK members meeting and even the Post Office opens shop in one at Arden Way, Alveley.
Our Managing Director Sue Adams pointed out that the initiative was all about “Saving lives.” She continued “We want everyone in Shropshire to know that these defibrillators are for public use for both adults and children and where they are sited so that if there is someone suffering a cardiac arrest nearby then they can get emergency care quickly,”
Paramedic Product Specialist Chris Phillips, for SP Services in Telford, is providing free lessons to our staff to learn how to use the equipment. Chris had this to say “We are delighted to be working with STAR Housing on this extraordinary project to provide community defibrillation equipment and pleased to provide training support that could make the difference to a life saved or a life lost in a cardiac arrest.The chance of survival from a cardiac arrest greatly increases from 6% to 74% if there is quick access to a defibrillator and effective CPR is carried out within three to five minutes.”
We hope this is the start of a wider campaign and other companies in social housing will follow our lead by purchasing this simple and inexpensive piece of equipment that can so greatly help to save a life.
For more information you can call us on 0333 3212 200 or e-mail us at enquiries@starhousing.org.uk
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