BHFNewInn
For immediate release
4 September 2008
PRESS RELEASE
MORE LIVES TO BE SAVED IN NEW INN
New Inn residents have been thrown a lifeline by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Pontypool Round Table who have helped fund life saving equipment for New Inn Surgery.
The defibrillator, which helps people suffering cardiac arrest, has been funded thanks to a donation of £500 towards the cost of the equipment from the Round Table. The BHF has funded £650 towards the cost.
Glenda Meakin BHF Fundraising Volunteer Manager for South East Wales said: ““Around 230,000 people suffer a heart attack in the UK each year, about a third of whom die before reaching hospital due to cardiac arrest. When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, their chances of survival drop by up to 14% for every minute that passes, so a speedy response is crucial. Therefore, early defibrillation – within four to five minutes – gives the best possible chance of survival. We thank Pontypool Round Table for their support which has enabled us to provide a defibrillator for New Inn Surgery. “
Dr James of New Inn surgery said ‘We are very grateful to the Pontypool Round Table and the BHF for helping to fund the purchase of this life saving equipment. We hope we will never have to use it, but if we do we will be ready and able to give a person whose heart has stopped beating the best possible chance of surviving’
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The BHF has already invested over £60,000 in defibrillators for community sites and schemes in Wales during 2006-07.
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The BHF also funds and coordinates Heartstart UK, an initiative to teach members of the public what to do in a life-threatening emergency; simple skills that can save lives. There are over 26 affiliated schemes in Wales and the BHF invested over £35,000 in these schemes during 2006-07 and since 1996 it has trained over 80,000 men women and children in Wales.
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The BHF depends upon the work of volunteers to fund its vital work fighting heart and circulatory disease – the UK’s biggest killer. BHF currently has a range of interesting and flexible home based opportunities to suit everyone, ranging from two hours a week to two hours a year.
For more information about the work of the BHF and volunteering opportunities please call Glenda Meakin on 029 2089 0148 or email meaking@bhf.org.uk or visit bhf.org.uk.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
• The British Heart Foundation (BHF) is a major national charity that plays a leading role in the fight against heart and circulatory disease, the UK’s biggest killer. It is the largest independent funder of heart research in the UK. The Foundation also plays an important role in funding education, both of the public and of health professionals, and in providing life-saving cardiac equipment and support for rehabilitation and patient care.
· Cardiac arrests cause the heart either to quiver – known as fibrillation – or stop beating altogether. A defibrillator works by delivering a controlled electric shock through the chest wall to the heart to restore a normal heartbeat.
• For further information on the work of the British Heart Foundation visit bhf.org.uk
• The BHF is dependent upon volunteers and offers a range of interesting roles and opportunities. For further information call 0800 169 3672.
• For further information on Heartstart UK email heartstart@bhf.org.uk