A JCB donation is proving just what the doctor ordered for Uttoxeter’s new First Responder emergency vehicle.
The Rocester-based digger maker has kitted out the First Responder unit with a £1,500 defibrillator to enable the community lifeline to respond to emergencies across the Dove Valley area.
The First Responder vehicle, which took to the road earlier this year, is staffed by Uttoxeter-based volunteer Mary Dorrington. It joins Rocester’s First Responder Anthony Coates, with each covering a six-mile radius from their home base.
When a 999 call comes in, we are the first to be despatched to any life-threatening emergencies, and getting someone’s heart started as soon as possible is imperative to their survival and recovery. The defibrillator is a vital part of our equipment, and we are hugely grateful to JCB for funding this kit.
Mary Dorrington | Uttoxeter-based volunteer
Handing over the defibrillator, JCB doctor Jonathan Graham said: “Each year there are more than 30,000 cardiac arrests in the community across the UK. Rapid medical intervention with CPR and the use of a defibrillator means the chance of survival increases from less than 10% to more than 80%. We are delighted to be able to support the First Responders with this game-changing equipment.”
Helen McCarthy JCB Occupational Health Manager added: “Ensuring all JCB employees receive the best possible medical care is our priority. Mary is the First Responder covering JCB’s World Parts Centre in Beamhurst, near Uttoxeter, as well as the neighbouring JCB Attachments, Heavy Products and Cab Systems factories. More than 1,500 people work there, so having such a well-equipped lifeline just minutes away from Beamhurst is a great reassurance.”