‘If we can get more defibrillators out in the community we can save more lives’
Jo Joveini, director and lead instructor at Act Fast First Aid, Beverley(Image: Act Fast First Aid)
A Beverley-based first aid training company is supporting East Riding Council in its pioneering scheme that has seen portable defibrillators installed on all its bin lorries. Act Fast First Aid was already working with Safer Roads Humber, the region’s road safety partnership, and delivering training to teams in the area when it was chosen to provide the necessary training – and the emergency devices – for the potentially life-saving initiative.
Jo Joveini, director and lead instructor at Act Fast First Aid, said: “It’s such a good idea, I’m surprised no one’s thought of doing this sooner.
“We’ve provided the defibrillators and the training for the crews is in process. They are very much on board with it.
“They do CPR and learn about teamwork with the defibrillator; it’s very hands-on and they learn how to support each other and work together. I think that’s why they have enjoyed it so much.”
Act Fast First Aid, which delivers first aid courses across the UK as well as internationally, has been running for 11 years and has been based at the Beverley Enterprise Centre, in Beck View Road, Beverley, for the past four years. “We’ve just donated a portable defibrillator to the centre,” Jo said.
“It was one of the first things I asked them about when we moved in. It’s not just for the centre, anyone can pick it up if it’s needed – if someone collapses in the street nearby. We only ask that they bring it back.”
Jo said the statistics were “pretty dire”, with the Resuscitation Council saying that, sadly, fewer than one in ten people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK. Survival rates are much higher with intervention – early defibrillation within three to five minutes of collapse can increase survival rates by as much as 50 to 70 per cent.
Jo said she thought there was scope to expand this initiative across all kinds of public vehicles that were out in communities, such as taxis or school buses. “If we can get more defibrillators out in the community we can save more lives,” said Jo.
“With a project like East Riding Council’s, and being able to access a defibrillator before an ambulance or a community first responder can get there, it is going to increase someone’s chances of survival.”
All of the East Riding’s refuse trucks have clear signage on them that Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), that deliver an electric shock to the heart during sudden cardiac arrest to restore its normal rhythm, are on board. The safety scheme was announced in March.
Hull Live is backing the initiative, and going one further by helping to spread the word and urge other councils across the country – particularly those in rural areas – to consider a similar scheme.
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