Three life-saving defibrillators are being fitted outside buildings on the De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) campus so they are accessible 24/7.
One of the defibrillators has been fitted to a wall outside the Queen’s Building, facing Mill Lane, another outside Bede House, Western Road, and a third will soon appear in Magazine Square.
JHMT chair Steve Humphries, Medical Trustee Mike Ferguson and DMU's Jon Grounds
The new sites were identified and fitted with the defibrillators thanks to the work of DMU Health and Safety Officer Jon Grounds with the support of the Leicester heart charity The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT), Leicester City Council’s public health team and East Midlands Ambulance Service.
There is already a defibrillator located outside of the Campus Centre building along with two further defibrillators sited in Bede Park and in Castle Gardens. It means DMU students and staff, and the surrounding community, have good access to life-saving equipment round the clock.
All of the sites are registered with The Circuit meaning their location is instantly synchronised with the emergency services’ systems. It means when someone calls 999 an operator will be able to tell them the nearest place to find a defibrillator, night or day.
The news comes on Restart a Heart Day, which is dedicated to highlighting the need for more people to learn life-saving skills and save someone who has a cardiac arrest. This year’s theme is the importance of defibrillators.
DMU Health and Safety Officer Jon said: “I’m delighted this collaboration with Leicester City Council, JHMT and EMAS has meant we have been able to provide this valuable life-saving equipment for, not only DMU staff and students, but our local community.
“I’d like to thank our Estates staff for their support with this project, and to highlight to staff the resources available to guide them through how to use the defibrillators.”
Here are bite size introductory videos from JHMT with simple demonstrations on CPR and how to use a defibrillator
Simple Skills Save Lives
Demo of CPR
Being familiar with a defibrillator
Defibrillator demonstration
It is estimated that more than 80,000 cardiac arrests happen outside of hospital every year and less than one in 10 people survive.
Medical research shows that a heart attack victim’s survival chances increase by as much as 50 per cent if people attending to them use CPR and have access to a defibrillator.
Mike Ferguson, of the Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT), said: “Sudden cardiac arrest can strike anyone of any age, anywhere and anytime, including seemingly fit and healthy young people.
“Twelve people under the age of 35 die each week from unrecognised heart disorders. It’s vitally important that publicly accessible defibrillators are readily available in case of a cardiac emergency, and that people learn how to use them and how to give CPR.
“Being prepared is key to saving lives.”
Leicester City Council is talking to organisations, community groups and businesses in the city to ask them to consider fitting or moving defibrillators outside their buildings to make them available 24 hours a day.
Rob Howard, Director of Public Health at Leicester City Council, said: “We are delighted by the quick response by De Montfort University who have taken steps to site three new public access defibrillators around the campus in the West End of the city which will be available 24/7.
“This is an important step and example of how local organisations can play their part to ensure all communities have equal access to this vitally important life-saving equipment.”
The JHMT works with sports clubs, schools and community groups to raise awareness of sudden heart deaths, particularly in young people.
The trust was set up in memory of Leicester teenager Joe Humphries, who collapsed and died while out jogging near his family home in Rothley in October 2012. Joe was a victim of sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) – a group of lethal heart diseases which can cause sudden cardiac death in young people.
As well as providing free CPR and defibrillator training, the JHMT works hard to raise awareness of sudden heart deaths (SADS), helps to provide community defibrillators and runs Inspire, a local grants scheme for inspirational young people in the city and county.
To find out more about the work of the Trust, apply for training and support, or to help out with the charity's work, visit the website at www.jhmt.org.uk
People who look after defibrillators within the city and county – such as offices, shopping centres and public places – are being asked to register them on The Circuit. This can be done online at: www.thecircuit.uk
Posted on Monday 16 October 2023