Recently, Defibs4Bristol had two defibrillator activations on Gloucester Road in Bristol, one at the Future Leap site and the other at the prison. On the same night, while checking the defibfinder website - a map of all current defibrillators in the UK - Simon noticed that another defibrillator located at the Applegreen Service Station at the Bishopston end of Gloucester Road had dropped off the system. This defibrillator, which was not installed or operated by Defibs4Bristol, had seemingly gone unnoticed.
Determined to investigate, Simon reached out to the person he was told was the guardian of the defibrillator. Unfortunately, there was no response. Recognising the urgency of the situation, Simon took matters into his own hands. He had 150 leaflets printed and personally distributed them to local businesses and residents, raising awareness about the defibrillator's status.
The response from the community was heartening. Many generous donations were made, specifically to raise funds for new defibrillator pads. Upon inspection, Simon discovered that the pads on the defibrillator had expired last year in 2023, and the device had been off the system for at least two months. Thanks to the donations, Simon was able to replace the old pads with a brand new set, ensuring the defibrillator is ready to use again in this high-traffic, densely populated area, which serves various neighbourhoods and businesses.
In a positive turn of events, Simon also found a local neighbour willing to become the new guardian of the defibrillator. This is a crucial role, as defibrillators need to be checked monthly to stay on Defib finder (www.defibfinder.uk), a website started and operated by the British Heart Foundation to ensure 999 operators can direct people to them in an emergency. Without guardians, the network of life-saving devices begins to fail.
Simon suspects this situation might be just the tip of the iceberg, with potentially many other defibrillators needing attention to be brought back online. If you notice that your local defibrillator is not listed on defibfinder, yet it’s still in its cabinet, please get in touch.
A huge thank you goes out to the local residents and businesses who donated and got involved, helping to restore this vital resource to the community. Together, we’re making a difference and saving lives.
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