TWO Cheshire police officers have secured a potentially life-saving defibrillator to be kept in a policing vehicle thanks to the Police Innovation Fund, launched by Police and Crime Commissioner John Dwyer.
The fund enables officers, staff and volunteers from Cheshire Constabulary to apply for funding from the Commissioner to develop and launch new projects which will have a positive impact on policing.
DI Kelly-Ann Cain and DS Emily Teare from the Economic Crime Unit applied for the fund, hoping to deliver lifesaving equipment in order to make a real difference in the community.
Mr Dwyer said: “I was delighted when DI Kelly-Ann Cain and DS Emily Teare applied to my Police Innovation Fund and put forward the idea of equipping a vehicle with a defibrillator. This equipment has the potential to be life-saving and it is great that the fund has been able to provide this vital piece of kit.
“I would like to thank both officers for submitting this brilliant idea, their dedication to protecting the residents of Cheshire should be highly commended.”
DI Cain said: “One of the fundamental roles of the Economic Crime Unit is to recover proceeds of crime from criminals and give back to victims, or to be used in policing or community projects.
“The idea for the funding bid came as an opportunity for the unit to continue to deliver the highest level of service to the public as assist our colleagues on the front line by providing them with equipment which will undoubtably save someone’s life
“This is a project very important to me as my father, Brian, sadly died following a cardiac arrest. I know personally the devastating effects and how every second matters in these situations. Making sure the officers have the right equipment, in the right place, at the right time makes all the difference.”
Only one in 10 people survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK but the use of a defibrillator could double a person’s chance of survival.
PC Owen Lewis said: “Police officers are often called to incidents where police powers are required to access people in need, or they may come across medical emergencies as part of their normal duties.
“This equipment gives us the ability to get lifesaving technology to those who need it quickly and has the potential to save lives that traditional CPR would not.”
For more information on the Police Innovation Fund please visit: www.cheshire-pcc.gov.uk/what-the-commissioner-does/commissioning-and-funding/community-funding/police-innovation-fund/
