Sunderland fire fighter's 5K a day to deliver lifesaving kit

A Sunderland man is running to his community’s aide, having set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for a life-saving defibrillator.

Fire-fighter Chris Smith will be treading the pavements of his ward to raise money that will allow him to deliver the kit, that he hopes to have installed at the Ivy House.

Chris is taking on 5k every day, until he’s run the full length of Hadrian’s Wall - 135km or 84 miles – and hopes to raise £2,000 to buy the equipment, working with the Red Sky Foundation to have it installed.

Chris said: “As a fire fighter I've seen and used these life-saving pieces of equipment a number of times and seen how they bring people back who would otherwise have lost their life.

“The more of these we have in the community, the better. And I am determined to deliver a defibrillator for my ward – something I really believe could make a difference.”

The kit will be contained in a fixed and secure box, that will be linked up to 999 and if needed, the emergency services provide the access code to allow the caller to open the box and make use of the equipment.

Chris added: “Pubs are community focal points so attaching the defib to a location that many people in the ward know well means that – should it be needed – people will quickly be able to recall where they can find this lifesaving kit and access it quickly.

“My dream would be to get a one outside every pub in the ward so people know they are there if they are needed.”

The emergency apparatus can save a life if used when someone has suffered a cardiac arrest. Sudden cardiac arrest occurs around 100,000 times a year, making it one of the UK’s major killers. Statistics suggest CPR saves just 5% of people who suffer an arrest. However, using CPR and an automated external defibrillator (AED) increases chances of survival by 50%.

To make a donation and support Chris’ fundraising, visit: https://gofundme.com/f/defibrillator-for-the-ivy-house-pub