Henry Smith MP has given his support to an initiative from the British Heart Foundation and the Department of Health to make public access defibrillators and CPR training more widely available throughout England.
Henry said;
“A couple of weeks I went to the British Heart Foundation clothing and electrical shop in Crawley, to thank staff and volunteers for their service and to use my position as the local MP to try and raise awareness of the charity’s work.
“I’m delighted to see that the Department of Health have awarded the BHF £1 million to make public access defibrillators and CPR training more accessible and widespread in England.
“I’m pleased that this funding has been announced, following the Chancellor’s announcement in March that the Government will invest £1 million to improve defibrillator availability.
“Additionally, I’m hoping to raise further awareness in this scheme by including its details on my own website and by writing about the BHF in my weekly newspaper column.”
Following its launch on 1st October, the British Heart Foundation will be accepting applications for public access defibrillators and CPR training kits from organisations such as charities, community groups and social enterprises.
Each award will come with the BHF’s CPR and defibrillator awareness training programme, Call Push Rescue, enabling more people to become potential lifesavers.
Information from the British Heart Foundation, 1st October 2015:
Funding for defibrillators in England
The Department of Health has awarded the British Heart Foundation £1 million to make public access defibrillators and CPR training more widely available in communities across England.
Applications open on Thursday 1 October 2015 and close in March 2016.
The packages
There are three packages available:
- A free public access defibrillator, CPR training kit and a cabinet
- A free public access defibrillator and CPR training kit
- A cabinet to improve accessibility to a current defibrillator
The defibrillators available are the ZOLL AED Plus and the iPAD SP1 and the cabinets offered are the Aivia 210 and DefibSafe. Unlocked and uncoded versions will be provided as standard.
The CPR kits are the BHF’s Call Push Rescue training pack. These contain enough equipment to train 10 people at a time. Anyone can watch and learn how to do CPR in less than 30 minutes. All you need is the means to watch the educational film either on a DVD or online and some space to practice.
A maximum of five packages can be requested per application and are provided free of charge.
Who we fund
Successful applications must demonstrate:
- That the defibrillator will be accessible to the public, preferably 24/7
- A commitment to train the local community in CPR
- A clear need for the device such as high footfall or a rural location
Replacement defibrillators will not be funded.
How to apply
Applications must be made online. The local NHS ambulance service will need to approve your form before it can be submitted for consideration. This is done as part of the online application process: Click here to apply
This funding follows the Government’s commitment to invest £1 million to improve defibrillator availability as announced in the March 2015 Budget.
The British Heart Foundation will be supported in the management of this programme by a network of charities and organisations concerned with improving the UK’s low survival rates from out of hospital cardiac arrests, including the Arrhythmia Alliance, the Resuscitation Council (UK), the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, NHS England and the Department of Health.
Related articles:
Henry Smith MP supports British Heart Foundation in Crawley
2 October 2015
Crawley MP backs Every Child a Lifesaver campaign
1 October 2015
Henry Smith MP meets British Heart Foundation scientists and patients
17 August 2015
