Springfield to install life-saving CPR machines on all sites

20 Jan 2016

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Springfield Properties has made a decision to invest £21,000 in Automated External Defibrillators to each of their active construction sites following a national campaign raising awareness for cardiac arrest.

The ‘Save a Life for Scotland’ campaign hopes to save 1,000 lives over the next five years and increase survival rates for out of hospital cardiac arrest victims, which is currently one in ten, while raising awareness.

As a result of increased knowledge and further first aid training, Springfield Properties decided to make defibrillators available across all 27 of the Scottish family businesses private and affordable developments across Scotland, and in each of the offices.

The new defibrillators are designed to be user friendly. They feature an automated voice; giving clear instructions of the procedures needed to deliver a potentially lifesaving shock to the patient in the absence of a heartbeat, so training is not required to be able to use the equipment safely.

Springfield’s health, safety and environmental manager, Brian Rees, welcomed the addition of the new technology and said: “If a casualty goes into cardiac arrest, when their heart has stopped beating, their chances of survival are slim if urgent first aid action is not taken. Reports suggest that more than a dozen people a week die due to a previously undiagnosed heart defect.

“The use of the Automated External Defibrillators can significantly increase the casualty’s survival rate, particularly if applied in the first few minutes of an attack. Fast action with this kit can even lead to patient stabilisation before the arrival of the emergency services.

“We want to make sure that, should the worst happen to an employee or even a member of the public, our staff at Springfield have the relevant equipment on hand that may save their life.”

Site manager James O’Neil at Robinsland West Linton, who has recently celebrated 25 years with the company, thinks they are a vital part of the safety equipment on site.