Back our appeal and help save lives: Heart campaign aims for £57k
Sudden cardiac arrest is the biggest killer in Britain, striking anyone at anytime, anywhere, but medical attention within the first five minutes can be the difference between life and death.
Today, the Express & Star launches an ambitious campaign to raise £57,000 to fund 25 defibrillators that will be placed in easily-accessible areas in Wolverhampton city centre.
Backed by West Midlands Ambulance Service and Wolverhampton City Council, our #HeartSafe15 campaign is aimed at doing exactly as the name suggests – to make Wolverhampton safer when someone goes into cardiac arrest. By having defibrillators located around the city, it will mean that emergency help is no more than a couple of hundred feet away. We are asking readers and businesses to donate and ensure that immediate emergency cover is available in our city.
We have teamed up with fundraising partner AEDdonate who have carried out similar projects in Staffordshire.
Fundraiser Jamie Richards said: "Sudden cardiac arrest does not discriminate – anyone could be affected. As it stands, Wolverhampton is not what we call heart safe, meaning that there are not enough defibrillators around to take emergency action. The first few minutes after a cardiac arrest are vital. This campaign can really make a difference and save lives in Wolverhampton."
Fewer than one in 10 people survive a cardiac arrest in Britain if it occurs outside a hospital. Using defibrillators in the first few minutes of an arrest with CPR can increase the chance of resuscitating someone by 70 per cent.
Paramedic and community defibrillator facilitator for the ambulance service Lee Farley said: "This is a campaign that will save lives."
To donate text AEDW50 to 70070 followed by how much you want to donate, or go to the website at crowdfunder.co.uk/wolverhampton-aed-campaign