This holiday season, we reflect on 12 incredible stories of life-saving made possible with CPR and public access defibrillators.  Let us celebrate the life-saving power of emergency care and share inspiring stories of resilience and recognition for the vital equipment that makes a difference in moments of crisis. 

Each story celebrates members of the community who strengthen the chain of survival and further recognise the differences we can make in real emergency response  when we are prepared with lifesaving equipment. 

1. OurJay’s Story – Public Access Defibrillators  

OurJay highlights the critical importance of the Chain of Survival, where early CPR and the use of a defibrillator and quick intervention can dramatically improve the chances of survival following a cardiac arrest.

This year, OurJay placed their 200th public access defibrillator available for community use in emergency situations. We had the pleasure of attending the big reveal outside The Kitchens Inc in Warwickshire. 

To recognise this heartwarming milestone, this defibrillator is housed in a special ‘200th’ DefibSafe cabinet design, honouring Jamie, the young man behind OurJay Foundation’s work and heartfelt mission.

2. Bra Off, Defib On – Bridging the Gender Gap in Cardiac Emergencies

This year on International Women’s Day, Jenny Legg started an empowering campaign called #BraOffDefibOn to raise awareness surrounding the stigma of removing bras during cardiac emergencies. This inclusive campaign promotes the importance of removing barriers which prevent providing proper critical care to women during CPR and public access AED use. 

There is a significant discrepancy between the success rates of AED usage on men and women, often because people lack proper CPR training or feel uncomfortable in a cardiac emergency. Jenny’s mission stresses the importance of receiving continued education and CPR training to ensure more people understand how to safely and effectively use defibrillators on women.

3. Sergio’s Red Sky Ball – Fundraising for Basic Life Support

Red Sky Foundation is a true reminder of what it means to give back to communities this holiday season. Dedicated to strengthening the chain of survival, the foundation provides public access defibrillators to save lives. We’re proud to support Red Sky in their mission by supplying iPAD AEDs and DefibSafe cabinets for their lifesaving work.

The Red Sky Ball, hosted by the Red Sky Foundation, was a remarkable fundraising event that highlighted Sergio Petrucci’s dedication to his community and his mission to expand access to life-saving equipment.

With public spaces equipped with a life-saving iPAD defibrillator, local communities can ensure basic life support is available during cardiac emergencies. 

4. Clare’s Public Hearts Defibrillator Campaign

Clare’s passion for saving lives has been nothing short of inspiring. As the founder of Tidal Training, she spearheaded a vital defibrillator campaign: Public Hearts Defib campaign.  This campaign recognises the installation of iPAD SP1 defibrillators to ensure communities have public access to life-saving equipment. To date, they have installed over 90 defibrillators in the community. In addition, Clare and her team equip individuals with CPR training to ensure they can support communities with lifesaving tools. 

With these skills, people can act quickly to provide emergency care in cases of cardiac arrest. We are proud to recognise Clare’s ongoing dedication to educating and empowering communities with basic life support skills. 

5. Muriel’s Commitment to CPR Training at the National Cycling Show 

Muriel’s inspiring dedication to spreading CPR knowledge embodies the holiday spirit of giving back to the community. As a runner, Muriel had heard many impactful stories from individuals who had been affected by or were survivors of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). Muriel says, “Nearly half of UK adults (43%) have never learnt CPR. Whilst there are now several initiatives aimed at increasing this number, we still have work to do!” Because of this, she strives to strengthen the chain of survival and ensure that more people are prepared to save lives in cardiac emergencies. 

At the National Cycling Show, she spent both days demonstrating CPR techniques and training 60 attendees to learn how to respond effectively in a cardiac emergency. During her sessions, Muriel demonstrated training with Brayden CPR Manikins which feature real-time LED lights to help users visualise the impact of their CPR technique. This innovative approach not only enhanced CPR training but also made it easier for participants to see how their actions could save lives. She also incorporated the iPAD trainer device, helping people build confidence and experience for delivering safe lifesaving care.

6. The Air Ambulance Initiative

Photo Credit: The Air Ambulance Service 

The Air Ambulance Service (TAAS) has made strides in improving community response to cardiac emergencies with its new training initiative. With the installation of 11 new Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs), which are available for 24/7 public access, these AEDs can improve survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest emergencies. 

At the heart of their commitment is technology which encourages early intervention protocols, necessary in the chain of survival. TAAS leverages the GoodSAM app, which helps mobilise bystanders to perform CPR and defibrillation while emergency services and ambulances are en route to the scene. Equipped with the iPAD NFK200 AED, communities are well-prepared to respond and assist in life-threatening emergencies, ensuring that every second counts. 

7. WEL Medical Supports Premier League Defibrillator Fund – 2,000 Installations

Earlier this year, the Premier League celebrated a milestone by donating its 2,000th defibrillator, marking an extraordinary achievement in its mission to help protect fans, athletes and others who use the community facilities in which they are installed. 

8. Neil Davidson – Cardiac Arrest Survivor

Neil Davidson, a cardiac arrest survivor, advocates for the power of quick intervention, essential CPR training skills, and importance of community preparedness.

On 31st July 2017, Neil experienced a sudden cardiac arrest. With quick-thinking and CPR from his son Oliver, Neil’s life was saved. This distressing experience sparked a passion in Neil to give back to communities and equip them with the tools they need to survive emergencies. He continues to raise awareness and advocate for basic life support to increase survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Neil dedicates his time to charity events, fundraisers, and public speaking engagements. Neil says, “It’s simple – the more people who have these skills, the more people survive cardiac arrests.” 

Above: Neil with Jess Heald, Simon Ferris, and Mark Sharp displaying an AED provided by WEL Medical.

Image Source: Community Foundation for Calderdale

His dedication to strengthening the Chain of Survival ensures that more lives can be saved.

9. Cowdray Golf Club – Martin Survives Cardiac Arrest

On a crisp sunny Friday in early November 2022, Martin met up with his golf buddies, Wayne and Dan, for an impromptu round of golf. The week before the game, Martin was experiencing back pain, weakness, and generally felt unwell. Despite this, Martin still joined his friends in the18-hole competition golf game. Fortunately, Wayne and Dan, both experienced Firemen, witnessed Martin’s collapse, and immediately performed CPR. Scott, another friend playing, ran to get the IPAD defibrillator as the ambulance was called. Once the responders arrived, Martin was put into an induced coma and airlifted to the hospital where he was fortunately revived. 

Dan and Wayne were nominated and subsequently won a community bravery award which was very well deserved. Martin said, “if it wasn’t for Dan and Wayne and the defibrillator I wouldn’t be here.” 

Hearing about CPR survivor stories reinforces the importance of learning CPR, early intervention and having close public access to a defibrillator. 80% of cardiac arrests happen outside of a hospital setting, therefore it is so important that communities can act fast in cardiac emergencies.

10. Tom Fane – Dad Saved by 18-Year-Old Son Thanks to Public Access Defibrillator

This holiday season, we’re inspired by the life-saving actions of 18-year-old Freddie Fane, who stepped in to save his father Tom during a sudden cardiac arrest.

On May 9th, 55-year-old Tom collapsed at home after feeling unwell. His wife, Amanda, immediately called 999, and Freddie rushed to retrieve a public-access defibrillator from Fleet Football Club nearby. Within eight minutes of the collapse, Freddie and Amanda used the defibrillator to administer the first shock and performed CPR until emergency services arrived.

Image Source: Tom Stood Next To Defibrillator, Newsquest

This story highlights the critical importance of CPR training and defibrillators in our communities. Tom’s life was saved thanks to early intervention, and he’s a living reminder of why access to life-saving equipment is vital in every neighbourhood. As we celebrate the season, let’s remember how these small moments of action can make all the difference.

11. The Air Ambulance Awards

This year, we were honoured to attend the Air Ambulance Conference & Awards 2024, celebrating the extraordinary work of lifesaving teams across the UK.

Our National Sales Manager, Gavin Dolman, presented the Breaking Barriers Award, recognising efforts to enhance inclusion, diversity, and accessibility in Helicopter Emergency Medical Services. Among the finalists were Devon Air Ambulance (DAAT), whose gender inequality research has driven meaningful change; East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA), recognised for reproductive health initiatives like free menstrual products and staff training; and the winner, Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC), who developed a Defibrillator Mapping Tool and installed 101 public-access AEDs, saving lives in underserved communities.

At WEL Medical, we’re proud to support life saving initiatives and innovative tools like Brayden CPR Manikins and advanced defibrillators, ensuring communities are always prepared for emergencies. 

12. Emergency Service Show – Celebrating CPR Training 

This year, we attended the Emergency Service Show, a network of innovative medical services and equipment. We informed attendees on how our cutting-edge defibrillators and Basic Life Support (BLS) products can help keep teams and communities safe with preventative measures.

We showcased our latest iPAD defibrillators and BLS solutions that are designed to be the heartbeat of emergency response in critical moments, ensuring anyone is prepared for life-threatening scenarios. Through interactive demos with our Brayden CPR Manikins, attendees had the opportunity to witness the accurate real-time feedback our technology provides for CPR training.

Give the Gift of Lifesaving Skills

These 12 heartwarming stories of hope display the invaluable impact that important CPR training, public access defibrillators, and quick community action has on saving lives. Together, let’s continue to raise awareness and ensure that everyone has access to basic life support.

• Equip yourself with essential CPR training skills
• Donate to fund public-access defibrillators.
• Advocate for CPR and AED training in schools and workplaces.

Every action strengthens the Chain of Survival. Let’s make 2025 a year of hope, resilience, and countless saved lives.

Ready to Strengthen the Chain of Survival?

If you’re looking for support in enhancing your organisation’s training or resources, WEL Medical can help. We provide a range of lifesaving equipment, from CPR training manikins to defibrillators. With flexible finance options available, we aim to keep our solutions as accessible as possible.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to find out more about how you can make a difference in your community.

Further Reading

• A Festive Celebration: 12 Days of Saving Lives
• In Conversation with Cardiac Arrest Survivor and BLS Fundraiser Neil Davidson
• Overcoming Fears of Using AEDs in the Public Domain
• WEL Medical and Premier League Team Up for Lifesaving Grassroots Defibrillation Deal
• International Women’s Day: The Gender AED Gap