SPEEDY Hire has launched a new initiative which will see potentially life-saving defibrillators (AEDs) installed in the firm’s engineer vans across the country.
Starting with 18 defibrillators, once the rollout is complete, over 300 portable defibrillators will be placed in Speedy vans.
The initiative is supported by British Heart Foundation (BHF), Trustford, Lex, and Aero Healthcare. Speedy highlighted statistics from the British Heart Foundation which show that over 30,000 people in the UK suffer an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year.
Speedy is also registering over 150 AEDs installed at its depots to The Circuit, the UK’s national defibrillator network, making it easier for emergency services and the public to find their closest device.
Aaron Powell, fleet director of Speedy Hire, said, “We are very proud to be launching this life-saving initiative today. Every minute without CPR or defibrillation reduces the chances of survival by up to 10% and our national presence through our engineer vans and depots enables more people to access the vital equipment in their time of need.
“This is a very important cause for Speedy Hire, having team members who have affected by heart issues in the past. We are committed to supporting not just our employees but also the communities in which we operate to help make a positive impact, particularly in those areas without easy access to a defibrillator.”
Judy O’Sullivan, director of innovation in health programmes at BHF, added, “We know that less than 1 in 10 people who have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year survive so this is a really positive initiative from Speedy Hire. When a cardiac arrest happens, prompt CPR and use of a defibrillator gives someone the best chance of survival and so having members of the Speedy Hire team being equipped to help save a life could make all the difference in a medical emergency. This important work also highlights just how vital it is for everybody to learn CPR –you never know when you might end up needing it.”
This is the latest commitment by Speedy Hire in its partnership with British Heart Foundation. First launched in 2021, Speedy has donated £25,000 towards helping to raise awareness of hidden heart conditions as well as help to raise funds for research. Speedy also installed 170 defibrillators across its depot network in 2021.
