Bristol’s “heart of gold”
In 2019, Simon Brookes started an incredible journey after a long career. He decided to set up a not-for-profit called Defibs4Bristol to facilitate the installation of a huge network of defibrillators around Bristol.
By the end of 2019, the first 24-hour Community Public Access Defibrillators (CPADs) was set up; and by the end of 2022, he had managed to place 25 CPADs. Since then, this number has increased and so has the support from the public.
Perseverance meets success
At the time of writing Defibs4Bristol has installed 49 defibrillators around Bristol with a number pending. Half a dozen of these were recommissioned models after they had fallen out of service due to lack of maintenance.
Recently, Simon persuaded a pub group to install CPADs on their premises. They have bought three so far.
Extraordinary encounters
Over the past five years, thanks to Defibs4Bristol, 17 AEDs (Automated Exterior Defibrillators) have been attached to patients. Due to GDPR, we do not know the exact number of people who have been saved.
However, through a third party we do know one outcome, which was positive. A daughter thanked Simon for the additional two and a half years that she had with her dad, which was a result of the AED being in the right place.
After installing a defibrillator at J’s Autofast Repairs garage on Julian Road last year, it was used to save someone within a month of set up. Recently, another of the defibrillators was used on a patient, the pads were replaced and called out again 14 hours later!
Did you know…?
While you probably know what cardiac arrest is, further awareness of the topic is essential. For instance, did you know it is thought as many as 80% of cardiac arrests happen at home? There are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year.
Or that the target time for an ambulance for a cardiac patient is seven to eight minutes? The overall survival rate in the UK is less than one in ten.
With defibrillators like those that Defibs4Bristol have installed, along with immediate CPR, within three to five minutes, a person’s chances increase by 70%.
Man on a mission
Before Simon started this campaign, he was a Royal Marines Reservist for 41 years until 2012. For nine years afterwards, he was a community first responder for SWAST (an ambulance service), being a volunteer going to 999 calls.
This gave him more than enough experience to understand what was needed to help, and since then has made it his mission to assist as many people as possible.
How could you help?
Though Simon has made an incredible impact over these five years and is still going strong, he is now in his 70s and needs help to continue. So, what could you do?
Financial support
With an increase in financial support, there would be a better fund for more CPADs and more of a budget to be able to pay for the consumables, such as pads and batteries for them.
Volunteer defibrillation monitors
Another way in which you could help is learning to understand the system and being willing to check AEDs monthly or if activated.
CPR training sessions
Learning CPR, which as stated earlier could more than double the survival of the patient, is a great way to support the cause. Simon offers free CPR training sessions for those who are eager to help. All Simon asks is for people to make a charitable donation. If you want to help or donate, please contact Simon at https://www.defibs4bristol.com/how-you-can-help. Anything can make a difference.
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