A fundraising campaign by a Stafford-based accountancy firm has funded potentially life-saving equipment for the community.
Carthy Accountants hoped to raise £1,500 for a defibrillator but have now spent around £4,000 on equipment.
One defibrillator has been installed in the car park of the company’s office in Eastgate Street, and another is situated close to the rangers’ hut, at Westbridge Park, Stone.
The firm has also bought bleed control kits, often known as stab kits, for four pubs and bars in Stafford town centre.
These are similar to first aid kits but include trauma dressings, gauze, chest seals and tourniquets to help stem serious bleeding.
Managing Director Michael Carthy said: “Whenever our team asked for support we were overwhelmed by people’s response.
“Five of our team ran the Stafford 10k and we raised awareness through a golf day, a gala dinner, and a summer fete.”
The defibrillators funded by Carthy Accountants are available to use 24 hours a day.
Access is via an emergency 999 call through which defib users will receive a code for the relevant machine.
The British Heart Foundation says there are over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests each year in the UK, but less than one in ten people survive.
Every minute without CPR and defibrillation after a cardiac arrest can reduce the chance of survival by up to 10 per cent, with quick CPR and defibrillation vital to give someone the best chance of survival.
