National Heart Month - Fundraising for the Community
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Published 14 Feb 2022 in Communities
With February being National Heart Month, we want to raise awareness of why heart health is so important to us all leading a healthy and happy life. Read our story today on our partnership with the leading defibrillator charity, The Community Heartbeat Trust (CHT) and how our Community Defibrillators are helping to save lives.
A healthy heart is central to overall good health. Embracing a healthy lifestyle at any age can prevent heart disease and lower your risk for a heart attack or stroke. You are never too old or too young to begin taking care of your heart!
Community Defibrillators - Fundraising to save lives
Our Regional Community hub sites and the Food Markets are all currently fundraising for their own defibrillators (except where there is one already in-situ or in very close proximity to the store) and fundraising is going well! Since September 2021, our colleagues have raised a staggering £18,000 towards their target.
We currently have 34 defibrillators sited externally at our stores (with the exception of a few) and all are available to the community 24/7. Two defibrillators have also been signed over to Central England Co-op as part of the sale of our funeral business and the council have taken over custody of one defibrillator where we have sold the business – so we know they will still be well looked after!
We believe in putting the community at the heart of everything we do and so when we site a defibrillator on our buildings, it is vital that it is the correct equipment; the equipment conforms to the various legislative requirements, such as disability laws and is available at all times for the benefit of the community. We also undertake to check the defibrillator once a week to ensure its emergency-ready. Following the check, the data is uploaded onto CHT’s database which feeds this information directly to the local ambulance service; so in the event of an emergency, they can use it if it is the closest defibrillator to the person in distress. Our colleagues claim volunteer hours for regularly checking the equipment.
To start the fundraising ball rolling, the Society donated money to place a defibrillator on Codsall Food Market and Longlevens store. These were installed towards the end of 2021. There will be many more to follow!
Radbrook Green cycled over 500 miles raising over £1300 – taking them to their target. Their defibrillator is due to be installed this month.
Chorleywood Food Market held a fundraiser on 3rd December and raised over £190.00
Codsall Manager, Simon Woolley with their defibrillator
Winchcombe store raised over £450 by sitting in a bath of baked beans. They didn’t pick the warmest of days and decamped into the store foyer – leaving Fraser (in the bath) wishing they’d heated the baked beans first! The baked beans were then recycled to feed a local pig farm.
In Bidford, the team did a 500km static bike ride from Bidford to John O’Groats and raised over £500 in the process!
Long Hanborough Food fundraising with cakes and guess the sweets
Spotlight on Christine Morgan, Moreton in Marsh
Christine Morgan from Moreton in Marsh ‘braved the shave’ to raise money for defibrillators in the Cotswold area. She set up her own Just Giving page and has raised over £450. But it doesn't stop there, her fundraising continues in-store which has now raised over £1300 – part of which was raised by Christine dying what little hair she did have, orange for Halloween last year! Some of this fundraising has gone towards an existing defibrillator to be upgraded at the cricket ground in Bourton on the Water.
Martin Fagan, National Secretary for Community Heartbeat Trust was so impressed with all of Christine's hard work that he delivered a Community Awareness Raising Seminar in the coffee shop in Moreton in Marsh store for free! 25 members of the local community attended to find out what it means for the community to have this life-saving equipment installed and how to use it. Part of the session includes how to carry out correct chest compressions and to demonstrate he used 2 toilet rolls taped together, as you can see in the picture below.
There are more than 100,000 hospital admissions each year due to heart attacks and there are a further 450 deaths every day caused by cardiovascular disease (CVD). Worrying facts if you aren’t looking after your health or your heart. Your Co-op Pharmacy are here with some top tips and advice to ensure you lead a healthy life with a healthy heart.
So, you are probably thinking “How do I look after my heart?”. Well, the simple answer is that it is possible to improve your overall heart health, but you will need to look at various risk factors which can lead to CVD. For example, high blood pressure, diabetes and being overweight are some of the major causes of CVD.
What can I do to help my heart?
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Cut down on caffeine and alcohol (maximum 14 units per week)
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Stop smoking – the harmful substances cause blood vessels to become narrower which can restrict blood flow and increase blood pressure
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Exercise for at least 150 minutes per week – try to find an activity you enjoy as you are more likely to stick to it, or better yet involve family and friends for added motivation
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You should have no more than 6g of salt each day – sodium causes water retention which means that the volume of water within the blood increases. This, in turn, increases blood pressure
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Eat a healthy and balanced diet – fresh fruit and vegetables are a must!
This is just a start – the hard work comes down to you and how you incorporate these tips into your daily life.
For more advice please visit Your Co-op Pharmacy online or call us to speak to one of our pharmacists who will be more than happy to help you.
Join our Your Co-op Conversation on How To Use a Community Defibrillator - 9th March
When we raise money to place equipment, we include the cost of a seminar for the local community and any members who want to attend, free of charge. The Community Heartbeat Trust community awareness ‘CARS’ programme is unique and has been recognised as being ideal for a community to create awareness of the issues surrounding treating a patient in the community. It is designed to answer questions, give basic instruction, be interactive and create confidence.
These are currently held online and are part of our exclusive Your Co-op Conversations event. If you would like to attend the seminar being held for Radbrook Green (but all colleagues and members are welcome) then follow this link to book your place on the 9th March 2022 between 6pm – 8pm:
For more information on the Cardiac Arrest Response Seminar see here as well as what to do in the event of a heart attack see here.