Residents from a north-west London neighbourhood have rallied together and partnered with London Ambulance Service to raise over £21,000 to install ten defibrillators across the area and train hundreds of local people in life-saving skills.
The campaign was started following a 59-year-old local man, Rob Hutt, from Queen’s Park suffering a cardiac arrest while jogging in a local park.
Two other runners were out that day who dialled 999 and gave Rob chest compressions until an ambulance arrived.
Later Rob’s friends discovered the area was what is known at London Ambulance Service as a ‘defib desert’ – there was no public access defibrillator nearby.
Rob said:
“The two runners were complete strangers but they had the courage to begin chest compressions and call 999.
“Learning these life-savings skills is important but Londoners should feel confident enough to stop and help a stranger – it’s an amazing gift to give people.
“The use of defibrillators and chest compressions is the most crucial part of the chain of survival. I’ve received amazing care from paramedics and cardiologists but I would be dead if those strangers hadn’t stopped to give me CPR.
“I’d advise Londoners to check where their local defibrillator is. I pray that no one will ever need to use it but you might so it’s vital that you know where it is.”
He led an 18-month campaign finding partnerships to fund ten new defibrillators across the area in Carlton Vale, Queen’s Park, Kensal Rise and Willesden. A further defib is about to be installed outside Cricklewood Library.
Rob is determined not to stop there and he is campaigning for more defibrillators and partnerships for other nearby areas.
This has also led to five training sessions, provided for free by LAS, as part of the Resuscitation Council UK Restart a Heart campaign which has trained nearly 400 local residents in lifesaving skills.
Rich Preston – a BBC presenter and a community first responder for London Ambulance Service in the local area – has also supported the fundraising and training.
Rich added:
“I first learned CPR when I was at school and it was so easy to learn. It’s something I had to do in my community on a number of occasions and it’s just so simple.
“And the funds raised and partnerships mean we have ten new defibrillators, which mean anyone who needs one in an emergency might have a 70% better chance of survival.
That could be a friend, a family member or neighbour.”
London Ambulance has also been working more widely with local communities – as part of its Charity’s Heart Starters campaign – to get defibrillators installed in ‘defib deserts’, which have little or no access to one of these devices.
Abby Stark, Paramedic and Community Resuscitation Trainer, said:
“It’s really important that we can give our communities the fundamental skills to know how to save a life.
“it’s all about giving Londoners the confidence to do this – anyone can do this.
“it’s amazing to see that the Queens Park community has got behind their friend to fund defibrillators, maintain the devices and their determination to continue work to put them in more places.”
The Mayor of London’s Health Advisor, Dr Tom Coffey, said:
“It’s inspiring that the residents of Kensal Rise have joined together to raise money to install defibrillators and learn these life-saving skills with London Ambulance Service.
“When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, every second counts. That’s why the Mayor and I want to make sure every Londoner, no matter where they live, has access to defibrillators and has the skills to use them.
“By giving Londoners the confidence, equipment and training to step in during an emergency, we can save more lives and build a safer London for everyone.”
Help us to help people in the capital by becoming a London Lifesaver or by donating to the Heart Starters campaign.
