Bath & North East Somerset Council is working alongside Sainsbury’s and the Community Heartbeat Trust to raise funds to install lifesaving defibrillators across the district.
Over the next four weeks Sainsbury’s is asking schools and youth groups across Bath and North East Somerset to take part in sponsored ‘active’ events.
The aim is to raise enough money to install defibrillators outside six local Sainsbury’s stores.
Each defibrillator costs £1,700 and it’s hoped, through the Heart in the Community Campaign, the lifesaving equipment will be positioned at Sainsbury’s stores at Odd Down, Green Park, Kingsmead Square, Dorchester Street, Moreland Road and at the Civic Centre at Keynsham.
The defibrillators will be attached to the outside wall of the supermarkets in special cabinets.
In an emergency situation, where a patient has suffered a cardiac arrest, callers to 999 will be directed by the South West Ambulance Service to the lifesaving equipment.
They will be given a special code to access the box and then talked through how to use the defibrillator.
Councillor Tim Warren, (Conservative, Mendip), Leader of the Council, said: “Placing portable defibrillators in places where people gather enables immediate treatment to be given in an emergency situation.
“Defibrillators save lives and the Council is pleased to be working alongside Sainsbury’s and the Community Heartbeat Trust in this important campaign.”
Lindsey Roughsedge, Sainsbury’s Bath Odd Down Store Manager, added: “The Heart in the Community campaign is an excellent opportunity for the people of Bath to make a difference to people’s lives.
“We are delighted that all 6 of our Bath and Keynsham stores are involved in this campaign and we look forward to being able to help increase the coverage of public access defibrillators throughout our community.”
The ‘Heart in the Community Campaign’ was launched in the Café at Sainsbury’s Odd Down Store yesterday evening, Wednesday 23rd September.
From Thursday 1st October, you can donate at any participating local Sainsbury’s store.
Fundraising packs will also be available for Schools and Youth Groups which have not already been sent one.
The School or Youth Group which raises the most money will be presented with £100 of Sainsbury’s gift vouchers.
On Wednesday 7th October and Wednesday 21st October between 7pm and 8.30pm, demonstrations of how to use a defibrillator and perform CPR will be given at the café at Sainsbury’s Odd Down store.
Martin Fagan, National Secretary of the Community Heartbeat Trust, said: “The Community Heartbeat Trust charity is delighted to support this initiative by Bath & North East Somerset Council and Sainsbury’s.
“The provision of defibrillators saves lives, but has to be done holistically and realistically. We have worked closely with Bath & North East Somerset Council on many sites with very successful outcomes, and we will be supporting this initiative wholeheartedly.”
