Often when considering defibrillators, we tend to think of hospitals and healthcare environments, but rarely do we consider whether pubs should start containing defibrillators. It’s no secret that the U.K. has a vibrant pub culture, whether for a lazy Sunday lunch or a night out, letting off steam with friends. These social interactions can hold significant benefits in their own right, both for mental and physical health.
That said, it’s important to remember the impact that drinking and pub culture can have on our wellbeing. That’s why, in this article, we look into the relationship between pubs and cardiac health, and why defibs are important in pubs. We’ll also explore the impact of the Proper Pubs Defibrillator Fundraiser, which continues to do outstanding work up and down the country.
Is Pub Culture Bad for the Heart?
First, let’s be clear about what we mean by pub culture here. According to the Great British Mag, pub culture is a part of British life that sees people gather in pubs and bars to socialise and enjoy drinks and often food. They claim that drinking alcohol is not a crucial element of pub culture and that families and non-drinkers can also participate in this ‘integral part’ of British culture.
At WEL Medical, we believe in a holistic approach to wellbeing, and understand that social interaction and quality time with loved ones are vital to keeping yourself happy and healthy. That’s why we think that, as with all good things, pubs should be enjoyed in moderation, and that proper safety precautions such as encouraging pubs to have defibs on their premises.
The links between pub culture and heavy drinking are well established, with the social, casual aspect of pubs making pastimes like day drinking more common and over ¼ of Britons admitting they regularly binge drink, often at pubs or bars. According to the British Heart Foundation, regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol can raise blood pressure. Over time, this puts a strain on the heart muscle and can lead to cardiovascular disease, which increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes and cardiac arrests.
Guidelines from alcohol experts The Priory state risk can be minimised by drinking no more than 14 units of alcohol per week spread over at least three days. This equates to around six medium (175ml) glasses of wine, 14 25ml shots of spirits or 6 pints of 4% beer. Further to this, many of the menu choices and snack options at pubs fall into categories identified by the NHS as negatively impacting heart health. This can compound the health risks of excessive alcohol consumption, further damaging your cardiovascular health.
Image Credit: The Priory
It’s clear that while pubs are comfortable and fun places to socialise with loved ones, developing an overly-dependant habit on them can be dangerous for your wellbeing. One of the most common ways this danger can manifest itself is in sudden cardiac arrests, of which more than 30,000 occur yearly in the U.K, further highlighting the benefits to pubs having defibs on premises.
Proper Pubs Fundraiser
To combat this increased risk, as well as give back to their local areas, Admiral Pubs have launched their defibrillator fundraising challenge. They understand why defibs are so important in pubs which is why their community wet-led division, Proper Pubs, has more than 165 pubs across the U.K. taking pride in supporting their communities to live healthy lifestyles.
That’s why they challenged each pub to raise £1,500 within its local area to fund a defibrillator based in the pub. Not only was this intended to combat the increased risk of excessive alcohol consumption, but it also provided an accessible and adequately maintained defibrillator for residents.
Mark Brooke, the Director of Proper Pubs, made it clear that community spirit was at the heart of his decision, saying:
“We’ve always been champions of the community pub. As the cost of living continues to rise, it’s been recognised that pubs aren’t just somewhere for people to go for a drink, they’re also vital lifelines for the community, bringing people together to support each other. It’s great to see this being recognised through the fundraising, and even better to be able to provide defibrillators to people up and down the country.”
Mark went on to explain how thankful he was to the pubs and their local community groups for coming out and supporting the fundraiser, further displaying his commitment to understanding why pub should start containing defibrillators as standard. Fundraising ideas ranged from traditional tombolas and raffles to sponsored head shaves, seeing innovation and dedication from all involved.
The result is that more than 80 devices have now been installed at pubs throughout England, Wales and Scotland, going a long way to ensure the wellbeing of pub visitors, as well as local people.
Equip your community with an iPad Defibrillator
If your community wants to come together to invest in a defibrillator, or if you pursued one of our tips for acquiring funding for your local device, head to our shop to see our full range.
For community use, why not look at our iPad SP1 fully automatic defibrillator, which comes with a free carry case included in the price? We also have an extensive range of consumables such as replacement pads and batteries, accessories including adapters and wall signs, and even fully lockable DefibSafe cabinets to keep your device safe and dry.
For more information, consider reading our blog or feel free to get in touch with any questions.
