In the past few weeks since Christian Eriksen collapsed in a football game between Denmark and Iceland at Euro 2020, there has been an outpouring of people wanting to learn CPR and how to use a defibrillator. Not least in Yeovil where several campaigns have been taking place to increase the number of pubic access defibrillators within the local area. Several events are taking place to raise funds to install these life-saving devices and we hope to capture them all in this post.
Nationwide – Yeovil
At the beginning of June 2021, the Nationwide bank in the centre of Yeovil started a gofundme page to raise funds for a defibrillator to be installed on the outside of their building which would be a central location for shoppers. Once funds have been raised for this they will continue their fundraising to install another defibrillator within the town area. As of 6th July they have raised a total of £2,632 of their target of £5,000.
As well as encouraging donations from customers, they have been very well publicised with an interview on Radio Ninesprings (www.radioninesprings.co.uk) and featured heavily in the Yeovil Press (www.yeovilpress.co.uk).
To give a donation to this cause please visit https://uk.gofundme.com/f/Yeovil-Nationwide-building-society-defib-funding
Man About Town – Yeovil
Local business owner Chris Sansom (Sammo) who owns a barbers shop in Silver Street, Yeovil has been assisting Nationwide with their campaign and will be offering a cut-a-thon to raise money for defibrillators. This will be taking place at the Quedam Centre on Saturday 24th July 2021. http://www.manabouttownbarbershop.com/
Yeovil Town Council
Earlier this year Yeovil Town Council agreed to fund £9,000 towards 4 defibrillators within the Yeovil area. These areas were identified as per the map below:
Local businesses have been encouraged to help fund these defibrillators which have included large donations of up to £2,000.
How Emerald will be helping
As a provider of first aid training in Yeovil we know and encourage defibrillators to be placed in locations around the community. As such over the coming months we will be assisting with the fundraising of these devices, asking local businesses to consider making theirs available 24 hours a day and asking learners to make contributions. We are also hoping to offer free first aid courses in Yeovil to members of the public who wish to learn the skill of CPR and defibrialltion.
Having defibrillators placed in strategic locations is fantastic news however we are aware there are many misconceptions about them within the public domain, and knowing how they work can save minutes which are crucial when a casualty is in cardiac arrest.
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