Eurospar pledges to install defibrillator at every supermarket
Eurospar has launched a new initiative that will see the company install defibrillators in all 50 of its stores nationwide - many of them in areas with little or no access to the equipment otherwise.
Print4 August 2017
Eurospar has launched a major new nationwide community initiative, in which it has pledged to install a defibrillator at every one of its outlets around the country. With 50 Eurospar stores across Ireland, the project means that several areas will now have access to the life-saving medical device for the first time.
The initiative was unveiled at Dublin’s Radisson Blu Hotel with the help of RTÉ presenter Michael Lyster, who revealed that he himself owes his life to a defibrillator. After suffering a heart attack himself back in 2015, Lyster had to be resuscitated by the National Ambulance Service using a defibrillator, so he fully understands the importance of publically accessible defibrillators in all communities.
“I’m delighted to help launch the Defibrillator at every Eurospar supermarket initiative as this equipment can really mean the difference between life and death,” Lyster said at the event. “Having a defibrillator in a public space raises the profile of heart disease and ensures that people know where to find one when an emergency occurs. I look forward to the day when each Eurospar has a defibrillator in place.”
Research reveals that when an individual suffers a heart attack, their chances of recovery diminish by around 10% with every minute that passes. CPR and the use of a defibrillator within 3-5 minutes, meanwhile, vastly increases those chances. This shows the significance and potential life-saving effect of having such a device in a busy area such as a supermarket.
Eurospar’s defibrillator initiative will also raise funds for the installation of a publicly accessible, automatic external defibrillator (AED) to be located outside of each supermarket. Funds will be raised through in-store collection, community fund-raising activities and contributions from the sale of a selection of Spar Range products.
“Eurospar supermarkets are located at the heart of local communities,” says Malachy Hanberry, Eurospar managing director. “We wanted to come up with an initiative that looks after the wellbeing of the people in our communities and what better way than to install defibrillators outside our stores. Eurospar is focused, in a very tangible way, on helping to save lives in our local communities.”
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