parkrun volunteers provide defibrillator for Town Park
Telford Town Park’s Visitor Centre has been equipped with a Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) thanks to the organisers of Telford's parkrun.
Chris Richards, who organises Telford’s parkrun every weekend, was joined by Lawley Running Club Chairman, Andy Crozier and spent last year running marathons around the country and fundraising for Arrhythmia Alliance, the charity behind the Hearts & Goals campaign, also supported by Fabrice Muamba.
The pair ran the Brighton and Blackpool Marathon in April, the Milton Keynes Marathon and the Liverpool Rock 'n' Roll Marathon in May.
They raised £2350 to buy a PAD and a weatherproof stainless steel cabinet.
The cabinet has a light that comes on when the door is opened and a heater that will come on when the temperature drops below a certain level.
The PAD will be available 24/7 and the access code is given once a caller rings 999/112.
A Public Access Defibrillator is a fully automated piece of equipment that talks you through the entire CPR process. It will only deliver a shock if needed, having first analysed the casualty itself.
Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the UK’s biggest killer:
· 100,000 people die from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) in the UK every year
· It
claims more lives than breast cancer, lung cancer and Aids combined
CPR only saves the lives of less than 9% who suffer SCA
· CPR when used alongside an AED massively increases the survival rate from <9% to 50%
Chris Richards said: “I’m so pleased we have managed to complete our challenge
of three marathons in 2 months (47 days to be exact) and to raise enough money
to provide the defibrillator for the Town Park. Around 30 regular
volunteers from our parkrun also helped with the fundraising and we are
extremely grateful."
“We hope the defibrillator is never used, but it's good to know that if could significantly improve someone's chance of survival if needed in the Town Park or surrounding area.”
Councillor Liz Clare, cabinet member for leisure services and culture, said: “We’re really pleased that this facility is now available in the Town Park and will be on hand for anyone who suffers a heart attack.
“I’d like to thank Chris and Andy for their efforts to raise the money to provide the defibrillator; it’s a great result for all of their hard work.”
