New life-saving defibrillators installed at the heart of Tata Steel’s Shotton site

Tata Steel in Shotton has taken delivery of £20,000 of the latest generation defibrillators used to help reduce heart attack deaths. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Twenty of the new life-saving devices will replace older equipment on the Deeside site which produces a range of steel products for the construction industry. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

With more than 750 employees and hundreds of contractors entering and leaving the site every day there is always a chance the defibrillators will need to be called into action. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Since the first machines were installed, they have been used three times. On one occasion being credited with saving the life of a visiting lorry driver.  ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The new devices have been bought with support from Welsh Ambulance Service and ‘Keep the Beats’ – a funded project run by Awyr Las, The North Wales NHS charity.   ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Tata Steel Shotton Health, Safety & Environment Manager, Damon Winterbottom, said: “The defibrillators we currently have are nearing the end of their service, so it was important to replace them. ” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“We have had them on site for almost 10 years and have used them with positive results.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Tomos Hughes, North Wales Pads Support Officer for Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “Following a cardiac arrest, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of a defibrillator before the ambulance arrives doubles the chance of survival.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

“So we are thankful Tata Steel continues to ensure its premises and people are rescue ready 24/7. This will undoubtedly help save lives should the situation of a cardiac arrest occur.” ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The new defibrillators will be positioned in key locations across the Shotton site over the next few weeks and their locations registered with the Welsh Ambulance Service ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Keep The Beats is a dedicated fund within an umbrella charity, Awyr Las, The North Wales NHS charity,  which provides enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The project is run by frontline staff and cardiac patients, who know how vital it is to have access to defibrillators in the community. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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