Defibrillator for the Co-op

Tuesday, 24 November 2015

In the UK 100,000 people suffer a cardiac arrest every year, with a 95% mortality rate due to lack of response time. Cardiac arrest is the UK's biggest killer.

The Rotary Club of Hebden Bridge has already worked with One Stop, donating an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and arranging training for staff in conjunction with Yorkshire Ambulance Service. Rotary Club of Hebden Bridge are delighted to announce the Co-operative on Market Street, Hebden Bridge have also agreed to take an AED.

The AED was officially handed over by club president Derek Bispham at a training session organised in conjunction with Yorkshire Ambulance Service.  The training session was delivered by John Spikings (YAS) to Richard Varley, manager of the Co-op, together with four team leaders, Kenny Bills, Nathan Thorpe, James Dixon and Karen Dixon.

John gave his usual excellent training session and demonstration. Explaining that AED's are sophisticated, reliable, safe and easy to use computerised devices that analyse the victims ECG and determines the need for electric shocks, where necessary. He also emphasised that the machine will only give an electric shock if the analysis deems this essential.

The Rotary club of Hebden Bridge were anxious to extend the strategy of having easily accessible defibrillators across the town. With portable defibrillators now in place at either side of town, One Stop, Tourist Information Centre and now at Co-op on Market Street supporting the static defibrillators in place at Medical Centre's in Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd. We would like to thank the Co-op for allowing us to continue this approach.

Hebden Bridge and Mytholmroyd fit the criteria for locations in which portable defibrillators are highly desirable. The towns are very busy throughout the year, attracting many visitors. It is vital that the general public know the location of these defibrillators, you could be faced with the prospect of dealing with some unfortunate person suffering a cardiac arrest, and with the help of a defibrillator you could just save that person's life.