Monday 8th July 2013 – 4.20pm – Claire Brown.
Whether you’re a soldier or a civilian and suffer a cardiac arrest in Kingswinford, you’re in safe hands at The Royal British Legion.
The local community now has its very own Automated External Defibrillator (AED) on its doorstep, thanks to the Royal British Legion. It might not look like much from the outside but, when someone’s heart has stopped, the little box of shocks is easy to use and gives a person the best possible chance of surviving.
Emily Bennett works in the Trust’s Emergency Operations Centre in Brierley Hill but, in her spare time, responds to 999 calls as a South Staffordshire First Responder in Kingswinford and Kinver. By experiencing both ends of a 999 call, from reassuring a distressed relative on the phone to being the first to arrive at a patients’ side, she knows the importance of getting help to people fast.
Emily, South Staffordshire First Responders Coordinator and Trustee, said: “I approached the club to see if they were interested in housing the community AED and they were more than happy. It’s such an ideal location in the heart of Kingswinford and everyone in the area knows where The Royal British Legion is.
“When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, time is everything. By starting early CPR and using a defibrillator it gives that person a better chance of surviving. Situated in a secure yellow metal box on the outside of the building, the defibrillator is easy to find and publicly accessible in the event of an emergency.
“We’re hosting a defibrillator awareness day at the Royal British Legion, Summerhill, on Saturday 27th July from 9.00am – 1.00pm. We’ll be offering free, simple and easy first aid, CPR and defibrillator training and we hope to get as many people trained as possible so please pop in!”
George Dudley, the Club’s Chairman, said: “It’s an asset not only to the club but the community as a whole. We had a lady member suffer a cardiac arrest here last year so we know just how vital CPR is as she is thankfully alive and well today. If it saves just one life, it’s worth its weight in gold.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
Reporters and photographers are invited along to the awareness day. Please ask for Emily upon arrival.
Photograph 1: (left to right) CFRs Jon Izzard, Di Turner, Deborah Whitehouse and Emily Bennett handing over the defibrillator to club members Bob Townsend, George Dudley, Lucy Baker, Gwen Philpott and Tony Nock.
Photograph 2: Club Chairman George Dudley and South Staffordshire First Responder Emily Bennett outside the Royal British Legion.