Do you know where your nearest defibrillator is?

Do you know where your nearest defibrillator is?

Last summer, tragedy struck a community in Derbyshire. Tom Henson was playing five-a-side football when he suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away. It was a complete shock to his family and friends – he was only 23.

After the incident, doctors discovered he had a congenital heart defect. Tom was a fit and active person – nobody knew something was wrong. It’s an all-too-familiar story and highlights just how important preparation is.

When an SCA occurs, it’s a race against time. On average, the UK emergency services take 8-10 minutes to arrive, but with every minute that passes, the survival rate drops by 10%. These odds improve significantly if there is a nearby defibrillator – the sooner you use one, the better. But that begs the question: do you know where the nearest one is to you?

Location, location

During the incident, Tom had a defibrillator used on him. However, his brother, Joe Robinson, mentioned that they didn’t know that there was a defibrillator nearby initially. Thinking that others may have the same problem, inspiration hit. He spread the word and let people know where their nearest device is. He set up the Tom Henson Charity defibrillator map to help save lives.

In January, there were 160 defibrillators mapped in the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire area. Today, there are over 450. The number continues to climb thanks to the help of the public, who have been assisting Joe by adding to the map. He has asked anyone who knows a defibrillator location to get in touch via The Tom Henson Charity defib map page.

Making a difference

What started as a touching tribute to his older brother has evolved into something even more profound. Joe Robinson has not only given people essential emergency information in the region, but he has also spread awareness of the dangers of sudden cardiac arrest. If the map continues to grow, perhaps it could turn into a nationwide effort to inform people of their nearest defibrillator.

Unlike fire extinguishers, having a defibrillator on site is not a legal requirement. Therefore, it is up to site managers and building owners to take responsibility for the safety of its users. This is even more important in high-risk areas – such as places where athletic activities or intense physical exertion take place.

You cannot overstate the importance of an on-site defibrillator. Research has shown that using a defibrillator in the first three to five minutes sees survival rates jump from 6% up to 74%. The risk of tragic cases like Tom Henson can be greatly reduced with SCA awareness and a nearby defibrillator.

At Defib365, it’s our mission to provide businesses and communities across the UK with defibrillators. Investing in just one for your organisation can make the difference between life and death. Whether you would prefer to lease or buy our products, get in touch today on 0333 050 6649 to find out how we can help you.