A scheme run by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) – Cardiac Smart – has helped deliver a community AED (automated external defibrillator) to the Stockport suburb of Cheadle Hulme.
Cardiac Smart is a campaign which aims to improve survival rates of cardiac arrest in the region by giving better access to lifesaving skills and public access to AEDs.
Research has shown that early defibrillation can triple a cardiac arrest patient’s chances of survival and early CPR can double them.
Leading manufacturers Cardiac Science, based in Heaton Mersey, donated one of its latest Powerheart® G5 devices to Cardiac Smart who awarded it to the charity Millie’s Trust.
Millie’s Trust, which works tirelessly to educate on first aid after losing daughter Millie in a choking accident, chose to have the defibrillator within their own neighbourhood. It is positioned in the centre of Cheadle Hulme on the wall of SK Eight, a new social Enterprise coffee shop on the ground floor of Equity Housing’s newly renovated offices.
Green Urban Tech was commissioned to design a cabinet for the AED in the familiar Millie’s Trust pink with their logo, to stand out on the high street.
NWAS Co-ordinator Sara Harris said the new AED would now be on hand for anyone to use in the event of an emergency on Station Road, which is the main thoroughfare of the town: “Hopefully this device will never be used, but is now here to help save lives. It is easy to use, it will talk a rescuer through the process and will only deliver a shock if required.”
Sara works closely with the Cardiac Science team to run training and familiarisation programmes to support AEDs which are placed for public access.
Kevin Garvey, Area Manager at Cardiac Science, commented “It is great to see the AED in situ. We will continue to work with NWAS and the Cardiac Smart scheme to get more AEDS into communities across the region.”
Equity Housing Group (EHG), a social housing provider whose relationship with the community of Stockport goes back 50 years, welcomed the opportunity to get involved in the AED placement. SK Eight is a new social enterprise of EHG, which aims to provide an amazing place to meet, drink and eat while supporting Stockport charities and community groups via the Equity Foundation- including Millie’s Trust.
Rosie Longden from EHG said: “It is very fitting that SK Eight should be hosting such an important lifesaving device for the community.”
Main picture: from left to right: Dave Whalley from Green Urban, Dan and Joanne Thompson from Millie’s Trust and Kevin Garvey from Cardiac Science.