Wickes Partners With British Heart Foundation To Install Defibrillators In All Stores

Wickes has partnered with the British Heart Foundation to roll out defibrillators across all 230 of its stores, ensuring that lifesaving equipment is available in the communities it serves. This initiative underscores Wickes' commitment to supporting heart health and providing critical assistance in emergency situations.

A defibrillator is a portable device that can recognise when someone's heart isn't beating properly and deliver a quick, gentle shock to help it start beating normally again. This shock, known as defibrillation, is an essential component in the chain of survival and can significantly improve the chances of saving a life. Defibrillators designed for public use are automated and are simple and easy to use.

Wickes is actively registering its network of BHF supplied defibrillators onto The Circuit - the national defibrillator network - a system developed by the British Heart Foundation in partnership with Resuscitation Council UK, St John Ambulance, and the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives. The Circuit maps the location of defibrillators, allowing 999 call handlers to quickly locate and direct people to the nearest registered device during an emergency.

Wickes has installed 238 defibrillators across its business, with 232 already registered on The Circuit. Some locations have multiple devices, and all registered defibrillators have completed the setup process. The Circuit also sends maintenance reminders to defibrillator Guardians to ensure these lifesaving devices are always ready for use.

David Wood, CEO at Wickes, said: “We are incredibly proud to partner with the British Heart Foundation to install defibrillators in all of our stores. We know that access to these devices can make a lifesaving difference, and we want to play our part in supporting our local communities. By ensuring our defibrillators are registered on The Circuit, we are helping to increase access to vital equipment that could save lives.”

Simon Dunn, Head of The Circuit Operations at the British Heart Foundation, said: “We are delighted to partner with Wickes – they are making a vital contribution to communities across the UK by ensuring that defibrillators are not only found in their stores, but also registered on The Circuit, so emergency services can direct bystanders to the nearest device in the event of an out of hospital cardiac arrest. We are also very grateful to Wickes for rolling out RevivR, our simple online CPR learning tool to its staff, equipping them with this invaluable, lifesaving skill.”

In addition to installing defibrillators, Wickes will roll out the British Heart Foundation’s RevivR CPR training tool to its colleagues. This innovative tool teaches users lifesaving CPR and defibrillation skills in just 15 minutes, equipping more people with the knowledge they need to act in a life-threatening situation. Every year, over 30,000 people in the UK experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, yet fewer than one in ten survive. Immediate CPR and defibrillation can more than double a person’s chance of survival. Through this initiative, Wickes and the British Heart Foundation are working together to improve survival rates and make a real difference in communities nationwide.

For additional details about The Circuit – the national defibrillator network visit: www.thecircuit.uk

For more information about defibrillators visit: https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life/defibrillators

Source : Wickes

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