As Easy as AED

October 16th is Restart a Heart Day across the world. The annual day aims to raise awareness of cardiac arrests and to increase the number of people trained in CPR, through events both in-person and online. There are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in the UK, but fewer than one in ten people survive. Immediate CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival in some cases, and every minute without CPR or defibrillation can reduce the chances of survival by up to 10 percent.

PureGym*, the UK’s largest gym operator, is a business that is taking decisive action to try to improve survival rates from cardiac arrests, with the provision of Automated External Defibrillator’s AEDs in every single one of its 315+ UK gyms. Although this is not a prerequisite in Health & Safety law, PureGym wants to ensure that in the rare occurrence somebody has a cardiac arrest in one of its gyms there is always an AED nearby. PureGym is also in the process of adding its AEDs to The Circuit, the national defibrillator network which provides the UK’s 14 ambulance services with vital information about defibrillators across the UK so that in those crucial moments after a cardiac arrest they can be accessed quickly to help save lives. Furthermore, PureGym has partnered with the British Heart Foundation to work on a range of transformational projects to educate people on how to prevent, treat and manage heart conditions, as well as raising £5 million to improve heart health across the UK.

Mark Trimmer, Senior Health & Safety Manager at PureGym, said: “Heart health is something that everyone at PureGym is very passionate about. With the need for immediate intervention after a cardiac arrest, easy access to defibrillators across our network is vitally important for our teams, our members, NHS ambulance services and the general public too.”

PureGym has already seen just how important it is to have AEDs readily available after a member had a cardiac arrest at one of its clubs in the North East of England earlier this year. Mark continues, “We did have a trained member of staff who recognised the person was in cardiac arrest, applied their training, administered CPR and used a defibrillator whilst waiting for the ambulance crew. He had to deliver multiple shocks prior to the emergency services arriving and without doubt this intervention helped to save the member’s life.”

“We want to make sure that our defibrillators are easily accessible in the event of an emergency. That is why we have a brightly coloured Safety Station stand that houses both a defibrillator and a first aid kit placed near the entrance of every single PureGym. A friend, family member or colleague with no training can use one of these machines, they just need to turn it on and follow the instructions, it really is as simple as (an) AED.”

To help build confidence in giving CPR and using a defibrillator, defibshop, in partnership with North West Ambulance Service are running free training in CPR and defibrillators in the Trafford Centre, Manchester on Friday 14^th October. You will be able to speak to trained individuals, have a go at CPR on a manikin and learn how to use a defibrillator with trainer units. Come and join in by the elevator in the main dome. You could be the one to save someone’s life.

*All of PureGym’s AEDs are supplied by defibshop.

More Information

defibshop are committed to equipping everyone with the skills and knowledge to save a life. Speak to one of our Product Specialists on 0161 776 7422 or fill out our Contact Form.