Business funds life-saving defibrillator in town centre
Boston Tea Party has become the latest Solihull town centre business to have a life-saving defibrillator installed on site.
The new unit was funded by National Grid Metering through their Community Budget, aiming to leave a legacy in Solihull.
Solihull Business Improvement District helped to find the prime spot on Herbert Road, just off Homer Road and Station Road, and Boston Tea Party were happy to have the new defibrillator installed on their outside wall. It provides public access to the vital kit 24 hours a day. The West Midlands Ambulance Service and FastAid have also been involved in the project from the outset.
National Grid Metering have since been honoured with a Community Initiative and Partnership Award for working collaboratively to support and assist the WMAS with the wellbeing and safety of those in the local community.
Ant Stokes and Chantelle Bogira, of National Grid Metering, said: “We are extremely proud and pleased to be able to provide this defibrillator to the local community.
“We would like to thank Boston Tea Party for agreeing to have the defibrillator installed outside their caf�. Hopefully, the new defibrillator will one day save a life. ”
WMAS Community Response Manager, Andy Jeynes, said: “The chance of a person surviving a cardiac arrest falls by ten per cent for every minute that passes without a defibrillator being used. That is why this is such a fantastic initiative from National Grid to install a defibrillator in a public place, as it can only help to save lives.
“Obviously, we hope there is never a need to use it, but should the time happen, the machines are extremely easy to use, meaning people of all ages and walks of life can provide emergency care to those who need it quickly, prior to the arrival of the ambulance. ”
Less than one in ten of people that suffer a cardiac arrest survive through to being discharged from hospital.
CPR and Defibrillators are key to increasing survival rates. Performing CPR doubles the patient 's chances of survival and use of a defibrillator within the first five minutes, doubles it again.
Only two thirds of the adult population in the UK know how to do CPR. Find out more information on CPR and how you could potentially save a life.
There are several defibrillators in Solihull town centre, some within businesses, and some publicly accessible like the one installed at Boston Tea Party. In an emergency, always call 999 who will be able to help locate your nearest device.
Pictured: Terry Flower (FastAid), Andy Jeynes (WMAS), Emma Mellerick (Boston Tea Party), Chantelle Bogira and Ant Stokes (both National Grid Metering)