UPS Systems plc is proud to be donating to Abingdon and Witney College’s Hand on Heat campaign. The Hand on Heart campaign is part of a wider effort to increase the network of defibrillator units on a national level. The units will be attached to the outside of the college’s buildings to allow access to members of the general public as well as their staff and students. These defibrillators are known as public access defibrillators (PADs) as anyone can use them.

Abingdon and Witney College are aiming to raise £6000 so they can install 4 defibrillators across each of their campuses. Many of the staff on each campus are trained in the use of these of these units as they are a vital piece of equipment for increasing the survival rate of people suffering cardiac arrests outside of hospital.

The Hand on Heat campaign is supported by the British Heat Foundation to not only fundraise for these lifesaving units, but to find blackspots where they are needed in communities. To help someone who is in cardiac arrest effectively, 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 reduce by up to 10%.  Currently only 3% of cardiac arrests happen within the recommended retrieval distance of a defibrillator, so increase the accessibility of these units can really save lives.

UPS Systems plc are an Oxfordshire based business, so this support this local initiative is really important to us. Most of our staff are from Witney or the surrounding area and two of the directors Jack Ogden and Paul Anderson also live locally. UPS Systems plc is doing really well and is growing and we believe that is important to give back to the local community.

You can find out more here: http://www.abingdon-witney.ac.uk/hand-on-heart-campaign or contact Katie Shurey at katie.shurey@abingdon-witney.ac.uk if you want to make a donation of support the campaign in anyway.