After officially opening in December 2022, bringing a host of new everyday essentials and services to the local Shankill community, EUROSPAR Shankill has installed a new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) bringing more potentially lifesaving equipment to the local area.
The device has been installed on the outside of the store, providing essential access even when the store is not open and will be available 24/7 for the local community, which is home to so many local schools, community groups and organisations, sports teams and businesses.
It is the second device of its kind to be installed at a SPAR/EUROSPAR store in the Shankill area, with the other located at SPAR Lanark Way.
The team at the store fundraised with their shoppers to have the defibrillator installed as part of Henderson Group’s Heart of our Community campaign, an initiative to get Northern Ireland’s largest network of external defibrillators installed right in the heart of both urban and rural communities.
The new AED at EUROSPAR Shankill will be registered with The Circuit, the defibrillator network launched by the British Heart Foundation in partnership with the NHS, Microsoft and UK ambulance services, connecting every device to its local ambulance service and the public.
Store Manager, Jenna at EUROSPAR Shankill explained; “We are delighted to be able to bring such essential equipment to our local community, and so soon after opening too. We want to thank our shoppers for helping us fundraise to install the device as this device belongs to our community and we need to ensure everyone knows it is there should it ever be needed.”
Bronagh Luke, Head of Corporate Marketing at Henderson Group which owns SPAR in Northern Ireland, and who spearheaded the defibrillator campaign added; “These defibrillators are easy to use, and the first port of call should always be 999. The Ambulance Service will talk the user through everything from locating the device, to CPR and use of it.
“A number of devices have been fitted at SPAR, EUROSPAR and ViVO stores in the past couple of months, with some donating additional devices to local Churches, primary schools and community halls. It brings our total number of Automated External Defibrillators installed outside SPAR, stores in Northern Ireland to 275, providing a potential lifeline to those who may need it when an emergency happens. All 105 Henderson Retail stores also now have defibrillators installed.
“We know that 20 lives have been saved thanks to our defibrillators, and we hope to see many more installed in the coming years.”
For more on SPAR NI’s Heart of the Community campaign, visit spar-ni.co.uk/heart-of-our-community.
Discover more from LoveBelfast
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
){kind=link}