Ambulance UK December 2019

NEWSLINE
YAS
Redrow to donate
site defibrillators to
communities where
it builds
Redrow is working with
Yorkshire Ambulance
Service NHS Trust to reuse
defibrillators from completed
construction sites across the
region and re-home them
within local communities as a
lasting legacy.
To kick start the initiative, it has
paid for a brand-new defibrillator
which has been installed at
Sherburn High School, in
Sherburn-in-Elmet, North
Yorkshire.
Redrow Homes’ Wakefieldbased
operation was originally
contacted by Jason Carlyon,
community engagement
coordinator at Yorkshire
Ambulance Service, to discuss
the idea of leaving a life-saving
legacy in the cities, towns and
villages where it builds.
Sales director Steve Jackson
explained more: “This was a
great opportunity to explore
how we could transfer the
defibrillators from our sites to
elsewhere in the community and
we have worked with Yorkshire
Ambulance Service to develop
a plan.
“The aim now for us is
that every time a Redrow
development is completed,
the defibrillator will be donated
to the local community. At the
moment it’s a Yorkshire-wide
initiative but we’re hoping it will
be embraced by our colleagues
in other parts of the country.”
Redrow has defibrillators at all
of its live developments and
regional offices across England
and Wales, which can be
accessed by staff, contractors
and the local community in the
event of a medical emergency.
Redrow has also created an
eLearning module about the
use of the defibrillators, which is
available to all staff.
Jason Carlyon, community
engagement coordinator for
Yorkshire Ambulance Service
said: “I’ve been very keen to get
backing for the initiative from
housebuilders for some time so
I’m delighted that Redrow Homes
(Yorkshire) is supporting us.
“As well as agreeing to provide
a Community Public Access
Defibrillator (CPAD) after
the completion of every new
development by ‘recycling’ the
defibrillators already housed on
site during construction, Redrow
has also agreed to meet any
costs of replacement pads/
batteries to make them ‘rescue
ready’ once the development is
completed.
“We would very much like
to see this scheme rolled
out nationwide with Redrow
and replicated by other
housebuilders.”
Fervent defibrillator campaigner
Lizzie Jones, whose husband,
Rugby League International
player Danny suffered a fatal
cardiac arrest whilst playing for
Keighley Cougars in 2015, has
welcomed the new partnership,
describing its value as
“priceless”.
Lizzie Jones campaigns for
defibrillators to be installed at
all sports pitches, schools and
colleges.
AMBULANCE UK - DECEMBER
Jason Carlyon Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Headteacher Miriam Oakley and Redrow sales consultant Karen Burke
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