Wellbeing in the workplace has always been a priority for Soundcraft. As the team continues to grow, the company has invested in key staff training and a potentially lifesaving defibrillator at its factory in Kent.
Soundcraft directors called upon the expertise of David Sullivan at Creating Lifesavers to supply the state-of-the-art defibrillator and provide operational team training of its latest technology, with accredited responder certification for CPR and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). 
Survival from a cardiac arrest relies on swift actions from first responders and research shows that accessing a defibrillator within three to five minutes increases the chance of survival by 50-70%. For every minute that passes, there is a 7-10% less chance of survival, so time is critical.
Soundcraft’s defibrillator is also registered as part of The Circuit – a national network of defibrillators – which provides every NHS ambulance service and the public with vital information about defibrillators across the UK, so that in those crucial moments after a cardiac arrest they can be accessed quickly in a bid to help save lives. As the only defibrillator within a three-mile radius of the Soundcraft company base, this emergency service equipment is now on hand to care for the team and those in need from surrounding areas, linked by the UK-wide network.
David Sullivan, Director of Operations at Creating Lifesavers, which provides training and education across sectors from large retailers and hotel groups to local businesses and schools, explains: “Currently, there are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests a year in the UK and less than 8% of people survive. This is a shocking statistic and it is our mission to work with companies like Soundcraft to provide life-saving defibrillators, but most importantly offer first aid CPR and defibrillator skills sessions for all members of staff.”
David, who was driven to establish Creating Lifesavers following his own personal tragedies, has gone on to teach thousands of people throughout the country and made it his mission to increase the survival rates of cardiac arrests in the UK. During the new term he will be teaching 3,000 school children to perform CPR and use of a defibrillator. He is also working with British Cycling and British Golf to make their sports Heart Safe.
In helping improve the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest, David successfully completed a ten-week charity challenge for The World’s Longest Gold Hole from John O’Groats to Land’s End. During this journey he met and taught CPR to 40,000 people! He also appeared on TV and radio, raising awareness and funds for the British Heart Foundation to help place life-saving defibrillators in villages, towns and cities up and down the country.
“We would like to thank Soundcraft for making the decision to look after their members of staff by providing a defibrillator, and also making sure that everyone is familiar with how to use it, that’s really the most important factor,” said David Sullivan. “Not only are you looking after your team, but the defibrillator will also be available for the community, which is just incredible, as using a defibrillator within three minutes of someone in cardiac arrest significantly increases that person’s chance of survival.”
The Creating Lifesavers team is aiming to teach as many people as possible about the vital benefits of learning CPR skills and encouraging companies across the country to invest in life-saving defibrillators for their staff and communities by providing three core first aid courses for; CPR and Defibrillator Training, Basic Life Support, and Emergency First Aid at Work.
Pictured: Soundcraft Managing Director Rob Thomson with the company’s new defibrillator. Lifesaver training using virtual reality at Soundcraft.
