Leek Rotary looking to do their bit to help save lives
New defibrillator is installed in town centre thanks to generous donation
LOCAL Rotarians have donated money to install an automated external defibrillator (AED) on the side of the town council offices on Stockwell Street, Leek, to cut risk of loss of life in the event of a sudden cardiac arrest.
Brough Park, the council offices and library areas of Leek are now safer thanks to the generous donation from the Leek-based humanitarian group, which has fully funded the AED and its ongoing maintenance.
Each year in Britain around 30,000 people are struck by sudden cardiac arrest outside of hospital environments. With a one in ten chance of survival at least 27,000 will die because they are not given CPR or have a defibrillator used on them.
Geoff Hodkinson, chairman of Leek Rotary, said: “Rotary members are people who share a passion for community service. We like to support local good causes and we felt that donating toward a defibrillator was an excellent way to strengthen our connection with the wider community, especially as a cardiac arrest can happen to anyone.
“We were approached by Dave Swarbrook, who has been helping to co-ordinate the expansion of the local AED network, to see if we could support this brilliant initiative.”
Dave Swarbrook, who got involved with AED installations following the death of a close friend in 2020, said: “This is fantastic news for Leek, the AED will cover an area close to the council offices, the library, college and also a large area of Brough Park. We are grateful to Geoff and members of Leek Rotary for their generous donation.
“Thanks also to Leek Town Council and Staffordshire Moorland District Council officer, Steve Profitt, for their help to install it on their premises.
“There can never be enough defibrillators and having this here gives extra protection to local residents, shoppers, college students and visitors.”
The defibrillator was supplied and installed by charity Aeddonate who manage the fundraising campaign with a dedicated fundraising page. They then look after the installation, registration with the ambulance service, and regular maintenance of the defibrillator. Jamie Richards, CEO of Aeddonate said: “In the UK, over 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests are treated by emergency medical services every year. Approximately one in 10 people will survive this event. The survival rate decreases minute by minute after sudden cardiac arrest, if a defibrillator
The defibrillator gives extra protection to local residents and visitors
Dave Swarbrook
is applied within three minutes, there is a 70 per cent chance of survival. To improve this, defibrillators must be easily accessible throughout the country.
“Defibrillators are extremely easy to use, and they provide step-bystep instructions in either verbal or visual form. They can be operated by anyone, with no prior training required.”
■ To find out more about fundraising for a defibrillator through Aeddonate email: info@aeddonate.org.uk call 01785 472224 or visit: https://www. aeddonate.org.uk