The John Lewis Partnership is working towards registering defibrillators at over 400 locations on The Circuit, reflecting its commitment to the wellbeing of Partners, customers and the wider community.
Registering defibrillators on The Circuit ensures that when 999 is called, ambulance services can direct bystanders to the nearest registered defibrillator. This can enable defibrillation to start before the ambulance arrives in the event of a cardiac arrest.
Early CPR and defibrillation can give someone the best chance of survival from a cardiac arrest – the ultimate medical emergency. Since registering the defibrillators on The Circuit, there have been several occasions where lives have been saved by using defibrillators in both John Lewis and Waitrose shops.
Registration also helps defibrillator Guardian Partners in the company to ensure the devices are emergency ready. They receive automated reminders when something needs to be done, such as a status check or replacing expired pads. A dashboard view of all defibrillators is available to the overall Organisation Administrator.
'Every year, there are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK. A shocking statistic, and one that has an immeasurable impact on the lives it affects,’ says Kaye Bettey, Safety Support Manager at The John Lewis Partnership, on the motivation behind this lifesaving initiative.
‘We know that early CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival in some cases, which is why we’ve rolled out defibrillators to all John Lewis Partnership sites across the country. Being registered with The Circuit means we can help members of the wider community to access a defibrillator if needed. Only a few months ago, one of these defibrillators in one of our shops saved a life.
‘The Circuit has been very supportive throughout the whole process of registering with them. They’ve provided key guidance and answered our questions in a very timely manner.’
The John Lewis Partnership has extended its commitment to make a lifesaving difference and is currently rolling out CPR training to its 74,000 Partners.