Royal Mail Fleet – Installation of 50 AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators):

Royal Mail Fleet – Installation of 50 AEDs (Automated External Defibrillators):

Introduction

Royal Mail Fleet have informed the Health, Safety and Environment Department of their agreement to invest in the provision of 50 Automatic External Defibrillators and the attached staff huddle/briefing details the actions required by Fleet Workshop Unit Managers/PiCs for the deployment of the initial 37 defibrillators which will be dispatched by RM Fleet and arrive in Units shortly. A second deployment of 13 defibrillators to additional locations will follow.

The AED models being procured are the “Heartsine Samaritan Pad 360P, fully automatic defibrillators”. The models provide a single button activation, after which the defibrillator will monitor the patient, provide voice guidance and if necessary, undertake ‘shock delivery’. They have a 4-year battery life (matching pad life), a ready to use visible indicator (this product is IP56 rated against dust and water ingress) and a 90-minute recording to aid emergency services review. See attached specification sheet and image.

The AEDs will be located within an RM Fleet Workshop admin area such as the Reception or Shift Supervisor’s Office and clear signage will be installed to direct the workforce and any visitors to the availability and location of the defibrillator.

AED – What is it?

An AED, or automated external defibrillator, is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). It’s a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyse the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm.

How many people die of SCA?

Every year in the UK, 100,000 people die of SCA, making it the UK’s biggest killer. It strikes without warning regardless of age, fitness level, anytime, anywhere.

RM Fleet Workshop AED locations Phase 1 – 37 sites:

Bristol
Carlisle
Carmarthen
Chelmsford
Chichester
Dartford
Darlington
Derby
Gatwick
Glasgow
Gloucester
Hemel Hempstead
Huntingdon
Ipswich
Lincoln
Manchester
Milton Keynes
Newport (Gwent)
Nottingham
Oxford
Peterborough
Poole
Preston
Redruth
Sheffield
St Albans
Stoke (Longton)
Stourton (Leeds)
Trowbridge
Tyneside
York
Uxbridge
Walton
Warrington
West Midlands
Wigan
Worcester

A further 13 sites will be added in phase 2.

Defibrillator Set-Up Guide and Video

The “Heartsine defibrillators” set-up guide and video is available on the manufacturers website via this link:

HeartSine Connected samaritan PAD 360P

Understanding CPR and Defibrillators – British Heart Foundation, RMG and CWU (See LTB 079/22)

Since February the CWU has been jointly campaigning with RMG and BHF to promote across Royal Mail Group sites and throughout the CWU membership a free digital training programme and application to assist the understanding of CPR and use of defibrillators – ‘learn CPR in 15 Minutes’ and we continue to support the promotion of this on-line free training tool and a digital App to assist understanding of CPR and the use of defibrillators. RevivR (a link up with British Heart Foundation) is a free, easy to use, digital training tool to teach anyone the essential elements of CPR, in just 15 minutes – providing people with the necessary skills to give lifesaving CPR and feel confident about using a defibrillator. The training is also available by clicking on the link: https://revivr.bhf.org.uk/?org=royalmail&start=direct&dist=intranet (See Attached RevivR – BHF/RMG/CWU Poster – Learn CPR in 15 Mins).

Fleet Workshop Managers (PiC) Actions

Share the attached Staff Huddle/Briefing with the workforce and deploy the following actions if the site is receiving a defibrillator.
Locate defibrillators within Reception area or Shift Supervisor’s Office where it is highly visible to anyone entering that area – display signage outside that room so it can be quickly found – source AED signage from ARCO (Search for ‘AED sign’) e.g., so that its presence is highly visible to workshop occupants and any visitors (the defibrillator sites will be centrally logged with the Emergency Services).
Keep external AED case clean using sanitising wipes (as per First Aid boxes).
The AED case must not be locked but always readily accessible to anyone.
Deploy AED monthly checks.
Specific First Aid supplies (titled the ‘prepack’) should be located with the AED to aid use.
If the Fleet Workshop is located within a shared site, co-located with other operational Units the Office/Plant Manager/PiC must be notified for sharing with all site wide First Aiders.
Review use of the British Heart Foundation CPR digital training tool and App as a Health and Wellbeing activity at the site for all staff. See above link.
Ensure all first aiders have been trained in defibrillator use and that they are notified and familiarise themselves with the AED (defibrillator).
Further information and enquiries to: Richard Wiggins Engineering & Fleet Safety Manager richard.wiggins@royalmail.com.

ASR Actions

Please ensure that this LTB and attached Huddle/Briefings are brought to the attention of all CWU Reps, members and First Aiders on the above listed sites both those within RM Fleet and those in operations who are on shared sites.

Royal Mail Group – AED/Defibrillator Provision and Installation Policy

It remains the Union’s policy to see AED defibrillators installed in all workplaces. There are regular requests from Reps and members for their Unit to have an AED installed. Royal Mail Group’s response is that any site/office can have an AED/defibrillator providing; firstly, a First Aid Risk Assessment (FARA) is completed and the AED is justified by the assessment and secondly, the AED is purchased from the local Operational Budget.

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