Utilising our network to build a heart strong community
We’re thrilled to be providing another update to our defibrillator initiative and journey to building a heart-strong community. As of March 2024, four more vans have now had AED (Automated External Defibrillator) technology installed alongside the two already deployed earlier in 2023.
We’d like to express our gratitude to the individual franchisees and their branches that have decided to invest in AED equipment and training for their vans and respective teams. This life saving technology is now deployed in around 10% of our network- a figure we anticipate will continue to grow as the year progresses.
We received overwhelmingly positive feedback on the initial training provided by The Oliver King Foundation for our franchisees and their teams. Many branches expressed their praise following the course, emphasising both its personal significance and the positive impact it brings to their community.
Mark King (The Oliver King Foundation)
Franchisee John Luscombe of Rainbow Restoration Melton Mowbray was the lucky winner of a defibrillator back in November at our 2023 Reunion – a prize generously donated by our defibrillator partners the Oliver King Foundation. John was happy to add ‘We were provided with very good and informative training, I am now very confident in using one. A defibrillator is an amazing piece of equipment to have on hand.’
From left to right: Mark King (The Oliver King Foundation), John Luscombe (Franchisee – Melton Mowbray), Marie McIntyre (Franchisee – North West Nottingham), Jennie Mills (Franchisee – Derby West & Stoke On Trent) and Darren Holton (Franchisee – Rochester).
The health and safety of our colleagues and our customers are a top priority and we are constantly looking for new ways to improve our readiness to respond to unforeseen emergencies. With seven million people in the UK living with Cardiovascular disease (CVD), our network has felt a collective responsibility to ensure we are prepared with the technology and training to swiftly address cardiac-related emergencies.
By prioritising health and safety, we hope to maximise the chances of saving lives within our community, contributing to a safer environment for all. If you’d like to read more about our partnership with The Oliver King Foundation and the progress of our initiative, please take a look at our page on Defibrillators.