A new defibrillator has been installed in Gloucester thanks to a partnership with the Gloucester Quays Rotary Club, One to One Recruitment, Gloucester Business Improvement District, Gloucester City Safe and Eastgate Shopping Centre.
This is another 24/7 publicly accessible defib and bleed kit, which has been installed at the Eastgate Street entrance of Eastgate Shopping Centre. It is in addition to one on the Southgate Street entrance of the shopping centre which, last month, saved the life of the bar manager of the Cross Keys.
Defibrillators are devices that send an electric pulse or shock to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat. They are used to prevent or correct an arrhythmia, an uneven heartbeat that is too slow or too fast. If the heart suddenly stops, defibrillators can also help it beat again. Automated external defibrillators (AEDs), which are now found in many public spaces, are used to save the lives of people experiencing cardiac arrest. Even untrained bystanders can use these devices in an emergency.
All defibs and bleed kits are registered with South West Ambulance Trust and the code is available when calling 999, also each external cabinet is fitted with an alarm/strobe and has been branded with partners and sponsor logos.
Gloucester City Safe Manager Steve Lindsay said, ‘I’m delighted that we have all pulled together to make this happen. The installation has involved electrical installations and permissions to install at key locations, and now we are in a great position to offer life-saving equipment at key locations across the city.’
One to One Recruitment and Gloucester Quays Rotary Club have been working to give Gloucester City Centre improved coverage of defibrillators and they are delighted to see the first machine and cabinet installed outside the Eastgate entrance to Eastgate Shopping Centre.
One to One Recruitment Manager, Sharon Howells commented “It is great to have the support of Gloucester BID, Eastgate Shopping Centre and City Safe to help us make this happen. Whilst we hope it is never needed, it is good to know that residents of Gloucester have the life-saving equipment nearby if the worst did happen.”
Gloucester Quays Rotary Club and Gloucester Kingsholm Rotary Club are looking forward to continuing this work with a plan to add to the supply of units in the city centre, along with ensuring the existing ones are available and well maintained.
Gloucester BID Manager, Emily Gibbon said, ‘It’s so important to have these publicly accessible kits in the city centre. We are looking to add ones, in partnership with both Rotary Clubs, and others, to Westgate and Northgate Street in the very near future.’
Exact locations of the other city centre defibrillators:
- Gloucester Docks – On the Wall of Albion Terrace (Security Office) Opposite McColl’s
- Eastgate Shopping Centre external wall on Southgate Street
- Eastgate Shopping Centre external wall on Eastgate Street
- Lower Eastgate Street (Next to Butlers)
Image: From left to right – Steve Lindsay (Gloucester City Safe Manager), Emily Gibbon (Gloucester Business Improvement District Manager), Jason Robinson (Eastgate, Kings Walk Senior Destination Manager), Sharon Howells (One-to-One Recruitment Manager), Alex Kirby (President of Gloucester Quays Rotary) and Richard Carter (Former President of Gloucester Quays Rotary)
