In January and February, I shared some stories about my volunteer work as a guardian for the fantastic charity “OurJay Foundation”. As a daily walker, I pass quite a few defibrillators and currently manage three for OurJay. I’m also planning to look after a fourth one very soon.
In the past few months, one defibrillator has potentially saved lives twice and another once. It’s incredible.
While official quarterly checks are necessary, I regularly inspect the defibrillators every week to check all is well. On Thursdays, I usually perform a quick visual check of the defibrillators. I simply scan through the cabinet glass to ensure everything is in order and the machines are ready.
I also attended a Valentine’s Day walk-in session last month organised by the OurJay Foundation and received some valuable additional training. Thanks as always to the OurJay Foundation.
Original article
The presence of a defibrillator can mean the difference between life and loss. They sit quietly on walls, in cabinets, outside shops, at sports clubs, pubs and community buildings, ready for the moment they are needed most. But these life-saving devices do not look after themselves. That is where the role of a Guardian with OurJay Foundation becomes so important.
The OurJay Foundation is based in Warwickshire and supports the provision of defibrillators and CPR training in local communities. They have installed around 300 units and I personally look after three defibrillators for Jamie’s charity. All are positioned close to where I live, placed for easy access in the community. I have units located at a health centre, a pub, and a church, with a fourth soon to be installed at a business centre/vets. All are positioned in accessible areas day and night when needed by the community.
Becoming a Guardian is a simple but meaningful way to support the charity’s mission. It is not a medical role and it does not require specialist training. Instead, it is about being a watchful presence and helping to make sure that local defibrillators remain ready to use if the unthinkable happens.
Guardians are assigned defibrillator cabinets after discussions with the OurJay Foundation. This involves carrying out occasional but regular checks to make sure the cabinet and defibrillator is in good condition, looks clean/accessible, and shows no obvious signs of damage or tampering.
As I like to walk, I pass my cabinets regularly each week and I keep a watchful eye carrying out official and unofficial checks. All cabinets have a visible indicator screen that shows whether the defibrillator is ready for use, and I can take a quick look to make sure the machine is functioning as I pass. If something does not look right, the Guardian can take action to resolve (e.g. check and clean) or in some cases report back a low battery warning, pads expiry, or a cabinet light not working etc. Once checked and everything is working as it should, we maintain a record on a system called “The Circuit” for official checks, which logs the readiness of defibrillators in case of emergency.
The time commitment as a Guardian is very manageable. Checks are occasional and flexible (the requirement being to at least maintain the minimum required official checks each quarter), and there is no pressure to commit to set hours. The important thing is to be able to take responsibility for the cabinets readiness. It is ideal for people who want to help but may not be able to volunteer regularly or attend events. It suits people who like the idea of supporting a cause in a practical, low-key way.
It is a quiet form of volunteering and helps support Jamies mission – supporting the community to provide awareness and access to public defibrillators.
I personally decided to become a Guardian as I noticed the increase of cabinets in my area, and I can keep a watchful eye on the installs for official checks and unofficial regular monitoring.
The OurJay Foundation has built an incredible reputation for installing defibrillators in the community and for providing CPR and awareness training on behalf of Jamie. Recently, I was able to attend a drop-in event and learn more about the life-saving work they do. Read here.
If you would like to learn more about the work carried out by OurJay Foundation or to volunteer as a guardian, please visit:
https://www.ourjay.org.uk/
Email: enquiries@ourjay.org.uk
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