Speedy to install defibrillators in engineer vans

Aaron Powell of Speedy (left) with Iain Lawrence of Aero Healthcare. (Photo: Speedy Hire)

Speedy Hire has launched an initiative that will see it install more than 300 defibrillators (AEDs) into its fleet of engineer vans. 

The initiative, which is being supported by the British Heart Foundation (BHF), Trustford, Lex and Aero Healthcare, will see the company install the AEDs into 18 vans, with the rest to be fitted by the end of 2024.

The company will also register 150 AEDs installed at its depots to The Circuit, a national defibrillator network, making it easier for emergency services and the public to find their closest device.  

Aaron Powell, fleet director of Speedy Hire, said, “We are very proud to be launching this life-saving initiative today. Every minute without CPR or defibrillation reduces the chances of survival by up to 10% and our national presence through our engineer vans and depots enables more people to access the vital equipment in their time of need. 

“This is a very important cause for Speedy Hire, having team members who have affected by heart issues in the past. We are committed to supporting not just our employees but also the communities in which we operate to help make a positive impact, particularly in those areas without easy access to a defibrillator.”  

Judy O’Sullivan, director of innovation in health programmes, BHF, said: “We know that less than 1 in 10 people who have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest each year survive so this is a really positive initiative from Speedy Hire.  

“When a cardiac arrest happens, prompt CPR and use of a defibrillator gives someone the best chance of survival and so having members of the Speedy Hire team being equipped to help save a life could make all the difference in a medical emergency.   

“This important work also highlights just how vital it is for everybody to learn CPR – you never know when you might end up needing it.” 

This is the latest partnership between Speedy Hire and the British Heart Foundation, which first worked together in 2021 when Speedy donated £25,000 to help raise awareness of hidden heart conditions and raise funds for lifesaving research. 

The company also installed 170 defibrillators across its depot network in 2021.