Lifesaving defibrillators are to be installed at 22 railway stations across East Midlands Railway's (EMR) network.
Step-by-step instructions which explain how to use a defibrillator if someone suffers a cardiac arrest are built into the units. Computers inside the defibrillators analyse a patient's heart rhythms to find out whether an electric shock is needed. If an electric shock is required it will be delivered automatically through electrodes connected to the patient.
The chances of survival if someone suffers a cardiac arrest are greatly increased if a defibrillator is close to hand. According to the British Heart Foundation, chances of survival from a cardiac arrest reduce up to 10% for every minute it takes for a defibrillator to reach someone to deliver the shock needed.
The locations of the defibrillators were put forward by station adopters and local community rail partnerships.
Phil Thomas volunteers his time as a station adopter at Radcliffe Station. He said he was delighted that a defibrillator had been installed at his local station. He said:
“The importance of having a defibrillator readily accessible to help someone in an emergency situation is life saving. We are very grateful to EMR for placing a unit at our local station in Radcliffe on Trent adding to the network we have around the village.”
Donna Adams, Community Engagement Manager, said:
“Each second counts when someone has a cardiac arrest, and with many thousands of people passing through our stations each day, they are ideal places to install a defibrillator.
“We are pleased to be able to contribute to such an important project and bring such vital equipment to communities right across the region we serve.”
Defibrillators are to be fitted at the following stations on the East Midlands Railway network:
- Belper;
- Blythe Bridge;
- Burton-on-Trent;
- Chesterfield;
- Crewe;
- Derby;
- Duffield;
- Kettering;
- Leicester;
- Lincoln;
- Long Eaton;
- Loughborough;
- Matlock Bath;
- Narborough;
- Nottingham;
- Radcliffe;
- Skegness;
- Tutbury and Hatton;
- Wellingborough;
- Whatstandwell;
- Whitwell;
- Willington.
