In November 2023, Lianne received a distressing call from her dad late at night. Her mum had collapsed in the bathroom and was experiencing laboured breathing. Lianne immediately rang 999 and was instructed to find a defibrillator. Unfortunately, the nearest defibrillator was a car journey away, and her dad couldn't continue the CPR. Lianne started the chest compressions, and thankfully, her mother regained consciousness. She was hospitalised for around 5 days with suspected angina.
This incident made Lianne realise the importance of having a defibrillator on their estate. The nearest defibrillator was at a garden centre, only available between 9am and 5pm.
Lianne says, “It really made me think – what if it happens again, what do we do? I realised we needed a defibrillator on our estate so everybody else would have a fighting chance of surviving.”
Fundraising for a defibrillator was a community effort
Unsure where to start, Lianne posted on her community Facebook page. A defibrillator Guardian from a nearby estate provided helpful advice and pointed her towards grants.
Living in the heart of their community next to a row of shops, Lianne and her family took a traditional approach to fundraising. They sold football cards; organised marble runs and stood with a bucket in a shop for 6 hours. Their efforts raised £1,800, which allowed for extras like spare pads and replacement items when needed.
The community's support was incredible. Lianne ensured the defibrillator was available 24/7 by placing it on the side of their garage, where there was power to heat the cabinet. A cut-through lane next to it made it easily accessible. The support of Lianne's neighbours and friends ensured someone is available to look after the defibrillator when the family is on holiday.
The importance of quick access to a defibrillator
Their defibrillator has been called upon several times and has already helped save the life of a local man. Lianne emphasised the importance of registering their defibrillator on The Circuit to ensure it is visible to ambulance services when 999 is called, allowing it to be found and accessed as quickly as possible.
