A COMMUNITY GROUP based in Birstall and led by local volunteer Rosie Rollings have been on a mission to create a heartsafe environment for all in the village with support from local heart charity - The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust (JHMT).

The group which includes volunteers from all walks of life, backgrounds and ages was formed at the start of Covid -19 pandemic to help support the local community and local groups. With funding support from the White Horse duck race, the group have been able to make a tangible difference starting with the purchase and installation of a defibrillator at the White Horse public house.

Over the past two years, more defibrillators have been installed across the Birstall community including one at the Birstall Social Club donated by Michael and Charlotte Harris-Lord in memory of Blake Michael Lord.

Rosie and her team of volunteers have been actively on the look out for the siting of any other community defibs with a keen interest to ensure all the AEDs have been registered on the circuit with EMAS. The Circuit is the national defibrillator network which connects defibrillators to NHS ambulance services across the UK so that in those crucial moments after a cardiac arrest, they can be accessed quickly to help save lives.

The Old Plough public house based in the village also had a static defibrillator which was only available during business hours. The group approached the JHMT for advice and guidance on how to make the AED public accessible 24/7 to the local community and to help to provide lifesaving CPR training including AED familiarisation for local residents.

JHMT have since donated an AED cabinet (£600) to help the group widen the coverage of this key public accessible lifesaving equipment. In addition, and led by the Trust's lead trainer Alan White, the community group have held regular training sessions for residents to learn key lifesaving skills.

Rosie Rollings, on behalf of the Birstall Community group, said: We are truly grateful to The Joe Humphries Memorial Trust for all their invaluable support, advice, training, and the donation of an AED Cabinet which has helped us take another step forward in our community to improve the chances of someone who should fall victim to an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. When every second counts, we also recognise the importance of as many residents as possible knowing where to quickly get access to an AED in Birstall village and having the basic skills and knowledge on how to save a life. Nothing can be more important than that."

Charles Poole from JHMT, said: " This is a great community initiative spearheaded by the Rosie (Rollings) and all the other volunteers involved with the Birstall group. A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time. When it strikes, immediate CPR and early use of a Defibrillator greatly increase the chances of survival – from less than 10% to 50% or more. For every minute without CPR, the chances of survival decrease by 10% and use of a defibrillator as quickly as possible is the way to restart the heart. This Public Access Defibrillator, available to all 24/7, provides cover for not only those venues where the AED is placed but also nearby residents and gives that potential life-saving ability to hosts of families, friends, neighbours and visitors to the area.'

As well as providing free CPR and defibrillator training, the JHMT works hard to raise awareness of sudden heart deaths, helps to provide community defibrillators and runs Inspire, a local grants scheme for inspirational young people.

The Leicestershire charity was set up after the tragic death of Rothley teenager Joe Humphries in 2012, who died from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome (SADS) while out on a run.

To find out more about the work of the Trust, apply for training and support, or to help out with the charity's work, visit the website at www.jhmt.org.uk

You can also follow the Trust on Facebook at facebook.com/JHMTorguk and Twitter @JHMTorguk .

PHOTO LINE UP, L TO R: Alan White - JHMT, Rosie Rollings -Birstall Community Group and Charlotte Foy – The Old Plough & White Horse Public Houses, Birstall