Springfield Properties is to invest £21,000 in installing Automated External Defibrillators on each of their active construction sites.
The decision follows a national campaign raising awareness for cardiac arrest. The ‘Save a Life for Scotland’ campaign aims to save 1,000 lives over the next five years and increase survival rates for victims.
Springfield Properties will make the defibrillators available across all 27 of their private and affordable developments around the country, as well as in each of the offices.
Springfield’s health, safety and environmental manager, Brian Rees, welcomed the addition of the new technology. He 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.”
The user-friendly defibrillators will feature an automated voice that gives clear instructions, so training is not required.
Site manager, James O’Neil, at Robinsland West Linton, added, “I think it’s great we have a defibrillator on site; they are easy and straight forward to use with full audio instructions.
“This equipment has the potential to save a life, when all else fails and emergency services have not arrived, and when time is limited.”
