Our chosen charity we are supporting this year is the Our Jay Foundation.
Our aim is to help raise awareness and support for their fundraising campaign to install much needed and accessible defibrillators across Warwickshire.
The OurJay Foundation was started in January this year after local Rugby boy Jamie Rees lost his life after a cardiac arrest on new years day. Jamie was at his friends house when he his heart stopped beating – his friends started CPR and called an ambulance. He was 18 years old.
There was a defibrillator nearby, but locked inside a school – Jamie waited over 17 minutes for an ambulance to arrive, and although paramedics did manage to get his heart beating again, the oxygen starvation to his brain was catastrophic and his family said goodbye to him on January 5th.
A member of the organ donor register, Jamie saved 5 lives on the night his family lost him.
In his memory, Jamie’s family started fundraising to purchase a lifesaving 24/7 accessible defibrillator for Ashlawn School at a cost of £1500 – they raised double and kept going.
What is a defibrillator used for?
Defibrillators are normally located in workplaces and public spaces. These defibrillators are known as public access defibrillators (PADs) as anyone can use them. In an emergency situation a 999 emergency operator can tell you where to find the nearest one and use it if needed.
By performing CPR and using a defibrillator, you’ll give someone the best possible chance of survival, but there isn’t always a defibrillator close enough to help save the life of someone having a cardiac arrest.
Read more about how a defibrillator can be used on the British Heart Foundation website.
Why do we need more defibrillators?
To help someone who is in cardiac arrest survive, a defibrillator needs to be found as quickly as possible. For every minute it takes for the defibrillator to reach someone and deliver a shock, their chances of survival lower.
How you can help
Our Jay have raised over £30,000 and have just installed their 14th defibrillator, with a further 7 already waiting to be installed. Their defibrillators are installed inside a vandal proof case and also with a bleed control kit, another life saving piece of equipment.
Jamie and his family are fighting for change in memory of their son, and we are so proud to support this cause.
Get in touch with the team at Our Jay Foundation through their socials or make a donation online.
If you would like to read more or make your own donation you can do that here.
