Following on from ‘National Heart Month’ in February, the Heritage Motor Centre has installed a defibrillator and trained all 16 of their first aiders in life-saving CPR. Visitors are now safe in the knowledge that if they suffer a cardiac arrest on site then their survival rates are significantly increased. Survival rates out of hospital are currently only about 10%. Survival rates reach as high as 75% when patients get the right care quickly enough.

A defibrillator can be used to deliver an electric shock to the heart when someone is having a cardiac arrest. Last month, researchers examining the use of defibrillators across England said knowledge about them and their use was "disappointingly low". Experts found that fewer than 2% of people suffering a cardiac arrest were treated with the device before an ambulance arrived. The British Heart Foundation estimates that 60,000 cardiac arrests occur out of hospital every year across the UK.

Tom O’Reilly, Operations Manager at the Heritage Motor Centre stated "We are really pleased to be able to offer life-saving CPR in the event of anyone suffering from a cardiac arrest whilst on-site. Having this equipment can significantly cut the amount of time a cardiac arrest sufferer has to wait for life-saving support and therefore gives them the best possible chance of survival."

For more information about the Heritage Motor Centre please visit www.heritage-motor-centre.co.uk or call 01926 641188