Coastal Recycling and EMS, both Exeter-based waste and recycling companies have joined forces to fund an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) for their staff who are based on the Hill Barton Trading Estate. Coastal Recycling has also funded two other new AEDs at their recycling processing sites, Deep Moor in North Devon and Kenbury Wood in Exeter.

An AED is a life-saving device that can help save the life of someone experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest.

Barry Green, Group Services Manager at Coastal Recycling said:

“Given the pressures on the NHS emergency services, the availability of such equipment is vital. We hope these will never be used, however it gives us the peace of mind to know that if the worst happens, we have the equipment in place needed to save someone’s life.”

Current survival rates from cardiac arrest in the UK is six per cent without defibrillation and the chance of survival diminishes with every minute of delay. If defibrillation is achieved quickly even after four minutes the casualty’s chances of recovery is improved by over 50%.