Where teamwork, the right equipment and caring for others can save lives
It seems that every High Street now has a defibrillator somewhere along it. Many public buildings as well as commercial outlets have one, and it’s become commonplace for aircraft to have one on board too.
It’s one of those pieces of equipment that you hope you’ll never have to use, but it is a reassurance to have one close by just in case.
In case you don’t know exactly what they do, defibrillators, or Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), are designed to deliver an electric shock to the heart in cases of sudden cardiac arrest, potentially restarting the heart and saving lives.
The timely use of this life-saving equipment exemplifies the critical role that AEDs can play in workplaces and public spaces.
Studies have shown that the use of an AED within minutes of a cardiac arrest significantly improves the chances of survival, with some reports indicating survival rates as high as 75% when immediate treatment is administered.
Just such a situation occurred at an Algeco UK service centre. In a recent emergency, a neighbouring company’s employee started to suffer chest pains. He collapsed and went into cardiac arrest.
Staff from the neighbour company immediately called emergency services. Once they’d carried this out, they found the closest defibrillator was at the registered Algeco UK service centre nearby.
The company sent a colleague to collect the defibrillator from Algeco which they used to treat the patient until emergency services arrived.
The patient was then transported to hospital, where he is in a stable condition and making a steady recovery.
If you work in an Algeco UK service centre, we urge you to find out if there is a defibrillator at your location. Your service centre manager should be aware of this.
If there is, please look into whether your defibrillator has been registered with the emergency services as it can provide easy access for those in need of it – which could be an Algeco UK employee or the general public.
It goes without saying, for Algeco UK safety is the number one priority. We never cut corners when it comes to the well-being of our people or those contracted to us, and we ensure they are never put in harm’s way.
And as you read here, where there was the chance to help save a life of someone not even connected to us, of course we will do everything we can to help them.
Algeco UK’s commitment to health and safety is absolute and is being updated all the time. Every Algeco UK service centre is equipped with a defibrillator and will make it available to neighbouring companies if needed.
We were proud to support our neighbouring company during this critical situation. The recent event serves as a powerful reminder of the value of preparation, awareness, and having the right tools in place when life-threatening emergencies occur.
Mike Shakeshaft, Algeco UK HSE Director, said: "We are incredibly thankful that the defibrillator was so close by and accessible. Our team's quick action and the availability of life-saving equipment helped turn a potentially tragic situation into one of hope.
“We are all wishing the individual a full and speedy recovery, and we are grateful to have played a part in their successful resuscitation."
As the employee continues their recovery in hospital, the team at Algeco wishes them all the best and remains grateful for the opportunity to make a life-saving difference.
