High street retailer boosts lifesaving capabilities

Wednesday 11th March 2015 – 4.15pm – Suzie Wheaton.

Marks and Spencer (M&S) has boosted its lifesaving capabilities after installing 40 defibrillators into stores throughout the West Midlands region.

The multinational retailer has been working in conjunction with West Midlands Ambulance Service, to roll out the lifesaving machines and deliver training to their staff.

The specialist devices can be used to restart someone’s heart should they suffer a cardiac arrest. These 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 and effectively, prior to the arrival of an ambulance.

Of the 40 defibrillators going into M&S, 14 will go into stores across Birmingham and the Black Country, eight across Coventry and Warwickshire, seven in Staffordshire, six across Hereford and Worcestershire, and four in Shropshire.

WMAS Community Response Manager, Matt Heward said: “It is brilliant news that such a large retailer has recognised the importance of installing such devices and has got on board with this excellent community initiative. The ambulance service strongly believes that by having defibrillators installed in public places, especially in areas with a large footfall such as M&S, really can help to save lives.

“The quicker someone is defibrillated, not only improves the chance of their survival but it can also help to improve the chances of a patient’s full recovery and reduce the time to do so. For every minute a patient is in cardiac arrest, their chance of survival decreases by 10 percent.”

Keith Davis, Fire, Health and Safety Manager at Marks & Spencer, said: “Our position at the heart of community high streets and large footfall shopping destinations means that our stores are perfect venues to host defibrillators. They save lives and we know that by having them in our stores across the West Midlands, they will save a life in an M&S store in the future. We’re training our first aiders to use them in our stores and with the support of the West Midlands Ambulance Service; we are making shopping safer than ever before.”

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Pictured: WMAS Defibrillator Facilitator, Keith Dawson with staff from the Tamworth Marks and Spencer.