Davies and Partners Solicitors are proud to announce the purchase of an automated external defibrillator (AED) for their North Devon office.
In the UK, more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year. Survival rates are just 1 in 10, and each minute that passes between the cardiac arrest and treatment reduces the chances of survival by up to 10%. 12 people under the age of 35 (including children) die each week from sudden cardiac arrest. Early intervention through CPR and defibrillators massively improves the chances of survival.
AEDs are designed to be used in the immediate aftermath of sudden cardiac arrest, such as that suffered by Danish Footballer, Christian Eriksen at the recent UEFA European Championship. The Defibrillator provides emergency life-saving electric shocks to restart the heart and normalise cardiac rhythms. They can be used to treat anyone suffering cardiac arrest, including small children, and require no medical training to be used.
Davies and Partners were keen to be part of the ‘community provision’ of AEDs, something which has been championed by several organisations and was recently the centre of a high-profile campaign by the Justin Edinburgh Foundation.
James Wickett, Legal Director and Head of the Devon office, (pictured) said: “Every business, particularly in rural areas where there is a lack of immediate medical attention, should have one of these as it could just save someone’s life. They are relatively inexpensive and very simple to use, with no medical training necessary. The problem is there simply aren’t enough of them, particularly in rural areas. I would encourage other businesses in Torridge and North Devon to get one so that as many as possible are available to the public.”
For information on how to use a Defibrillator please see the link below to the British Heart Foundation website https://www.bhf.org.uk/how-you-can-help/how-to-save-a-life/defibrillators
