The East Lancashire Railway (ELR) has taken another important step towards enhancing emergency preparedness across the railway with the arrival of a new portable Automated External Defibrillator (AED), secured through fundraising with the support of national defibrillator charity AEDdonate.
The new defibrillator will ultimately be deployed as a mobile unit travelling onboard ELR trains, meaning potentially lifesaving equipment can travel with passengers, staff and volunteers along the railway rather than being restricted to a fixed location.
Before entering operational service, the ELR will put in place appropriate governance, asset management, checking, training and deployment arrangements to ensure the equipment can be managed safely and consistently as it moves between services.
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The timing of the new equipment is particularly appropriate, arriving during Restart a Heart this October, the annual initiative led by Resuscitation Council UK to improve cardiac arrest awareness and CPR education and help more people become confident to act in an emergency.
Restart a Heart activity takes place throughout October, with Restart a Heart Day on 16 October. Resuscitation Council UK reports that fewer than one in ten people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK.
The new AED has been secured following fundraising led by ELR Fund Raising Lead Adrian Dewey, working with AEDdonate.
Mike Kelly, Chairman of the ELR said:
“Keeping staff, volunteers and our visitors safe is our top priority. I want to thank AEDdonate for their timely donation and all of our kind donors for making this possible. In addition to defibrillators located on stations, having this piece of lifesaving equipment available on trains should the worst happen will further enhance our health and safety framework.
The ELR is now looking to build upon the first unit by securing additional mobile AEDs, with the longer-term ambition of increasing coverage across all our operating services.
As a registered charity, the East Lancashire Railway relies heavily upon fundraising, donations, volunteers and the support of businesses and organisations.
Together through this and future campaigns we will continue to make the ELR a safer and more accessible place so we can all enjoy its history and magic.”
Phillip Warren, ELR Commercial Services Director, AED sponsor said:
“This is about putting lifesaving equipment where our passengers, volunteers and staff actually are.
“A railway presents a slightly unusual challenge. Our passengers are not necessarily sitting next to a fixed building or piece of equipment – they may be travelling on a train somewhere along the line. Having a defibrillator capable of travelling with that service gives us another important tool should we ever face a medical emergency onboard.
“It is particularly fitting to be announcing this during Restart a Heart this October. Hopefully this equipment will never be needed, but if that day ever comes, we want to have done everything reasonably possible to be prepared.”
Phillip added:
“Individuals wishing to support the next phase of the mobile AED project can donate through the ELR’s fundraising campaign:
If a business would like to sponsor an AED, or a medical supplier or other organisation is in a position to donate one, we’d be delighted to talk to them. It is a very tangible way of supporting a charity and potentially helping to save a life.”
