In August 2023, a group of concerned residents contacted Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC) to see how we could help them get defibrillators installed in Weston-super-Mare (WsM). A local man had suffered a cardiac arrest and there wasn’t a publicly accessible defibrillator close enough to help save him.

Six months later and with the help of GWAAC’s Great Western Hearts defibrillator programme the determined group called Donate for Defib WSM Project, have already sited ten lifesaving defibrillators!

Josh Bell, Tom Farrand, Christina Chell, Peter Elston, and the team are still working hard to raise funds and work with local businesses and organisations in the area who want to buy and host a defibrillator. They have raised over £19,000 from fundraising events such as race nights, quiz nights and raffles, and have been excellent at mobilising the support of the community with 16 groups raising funds.

Professor Graham Stuart, who is a Consultant Cardiologist was welcomed into the team in December 2023 Professor Stuart said, “I am delighted to support the excellent work of Donate for Defib WsM Project. There is absolutely no doubt early cardioversion can be lifesaving in patients experiencing a cardiac arrest. Moreover, the earlier it takes place the better the outcome. The best way to achieve this is to increase the availability of publicly accessible defibrillators in their community. This is an incredibly important project!!”

Both AMS Electrical Southwest and Aardvark AVO Electricians are supporting the team by installing the defibrillator cabinets for free — a wonderful contribution!

Weathered Oak Photography and Videography are also supporting the team and project by donating their time and expertise to create a promotional video.

The team have achieved an incredible amount in a short space of time. They have given people in WsM improved access to defibrillators which will ultimately give someone the best chance on their worst day.

“This group is unstoppable, and they are doing wonderful, wonderful work. CPR and defibrillators can make a massive difference to someone surviving a cardiac arrest – from less than one in 10 survival rates to over seven in 10. If someone gives effective CPR, the chest compressions help keep blood flowing throughout the body and can keep the patient alive. And a defibrillator can restore the heart’s rhythm and enable the patient to start breathing for themselves again.

For each one-minute delay where no one does anything to help, survival chances decrease by another 10 percent, so CPR needs to be delivered immediately, and defibrillators need to be close by, publicly available and used.

And this is where communities make a real difference. GWAAC’s incredible crew are the first to say that bystanders stepping in during those precious early minutes are crucial to the chain of survival. This is why the work of the Donate for Defib WsM Project is so important, welcomed and supported by GWAAC.”

Lisa Warrington, Defibrillator Coordinator, Great Western Air Ambulance Charity

Join the team

Donate for Defib WsM Project is run entirely by volunteers, and they are looking for more people to join the team. They would like people to work on partnerships, fundraising, project planning, operations, research, events and communications. If you’d like to learn more, please get in touch:

Email: donatefordefib.wsm@gmail.com 

Project Phone (Mobile): 07749036032   

If anyone would like to support this project, you can donate at their Enthuse page: https://greatwesternairambulance.enthuse.com/cf/donate4defibs

We can’t wait to see what 2024 brings for the team and can only imagine how many more defibrillators they will provide for the people of Weston-super-Mare.