Member Article

Cheadle Hulme gets new community access defibrillator

A scheme run by North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) called Cardiac Smart has helped deliver a community AED (automated external defibrillator) to the Stockport suburb.

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 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 campaigners who then awarded it at the Cardiac Smart Awards 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, in turn decided to give it to their home town and positioned it on the wall of SK Eight, a new social Enterprise coffee shop on Station Road opposite Tesco Express.

They commissioned Green Urban Tech 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 Chain of Survival County 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.”

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.”

Sara Harris works closely with the Cardiac Science team to run training and familiarisation programmes to support AEDs which are placed for public access.

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 the Group said: “It is very fitting that SK Eight should be hosting such an important lifesaving device for the community.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sue Souter .