Life-saving equipment fitted to council buildings

 Life-saving defibrillators have been fitted to the outside of three more council buildings, with the support of local heart charity, the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT).

Leicester City Council’s public health team has been working with JHMT and East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) to identify the locations of publicly accessible defibrillators in the city, so that any gaps can be filled.

The Brite Centre, Gilmorton Community Rooms and Belgrave Hall were identified as part of this work, and the equipment has now been prominently located on the front of all three buildings to make them accessible to local people all day, every day.

Rob Howard, director of public health at Leicester City Council said: “We believe Leicester is the first city to take this approach, following research that highlighted the need to ensure all communities have equal access to this life-saving equipment in all parts of the country.

"The city council has defibrillators in all of its primary and secondary schools, and thanks to the support of the JHMT they are also in city parks and all council leisure centres. The three new defibrillators we have installed have increased the number of community-accessible defibrillators on the outside of council buildings to 21."

Deputy city mayor for health Cllr Sarah Russell said: “Someone in the UK dies every 20 minutes following an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Immediate CPR and defibrillation within three to five minutes of collapse can lead to survival rates in excess of 50%. 

“We are therefore calling on organisations who have static defibrillators on their premises to make them accessible to everyone. If this could be done, many of the gaps in provision across Leicester would be filled or at least reduced, and survival rates from cardiac arrest in the city would increase.”

The council is asking people who look after defibrillators within the city and county - in places such as offices and shopping centres as well as in public places - to register them on a pioneering database called The Circuit: The national defibrillator network. This can be done online at www.thecircuit.uk

The council has been advised by the JHMT, which works with sports clubs, schools and community groups to raise awareness of sudden heart deaths, particularly in young people.

The trust was set up in memory of Leicester teenager Joe Humphries, who collapsed and died while out jogging near his family home in Rothley in October 2012. Joe was a victim of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) – a group of lethal heart diseases which can cause sudden cardiac death in young people.

Mike Ferguson of JHMT, said: ”Sudden cardiac-arrest can strike anyone of any age, anywhere and anytime, including seemingly fit and healthy young people. It’s vitally important that publicly accessible defibrillators are readily available in case of a cardiac emergency, and that people learn how to use them and how to give CPR. Being prepared is key to saving lives.”

As well as providing free CPR and defibrillator training, the JHMT works hard to raise awareness of sudden heart deaths (SADS), helps to provide community defibrillators and runs Inspire, a local grants scheme for inspirational young people in the city and county.

The defibrillators have been fitted this week to mark SADS Week – seven days of activities organised by the JHMT to raise awareness of sudden arrythmic death syndrome (SADS).

More information about SADS Week, the work of the trust, and how to apply for training and support, is available on the charity’s website at www.jhmt.org.uk

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Photo: Pictured outside the Brite Centre in Braunstone, L-R are:  Laura French, Leicester City Council public health consultant , Mike Ferguson of the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust and Cllr Sarah Russell, deputy city mayor for health.