Macdonald hotels installs defibrillators in all 45 UK hotels
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts has invested £47,000 in installing defibrillators at all 45 of its hotels in the UK.
The company is believed to be one of the first hotel groups in the country to put defibrillators into all of its properties. It has partnered with Green Cross Training to deliver first aid training and ensure staff are familiarised with the equipment, which are approved by the British Heart Foundation and automatically identifies if an electrical shock provided by a defibrillator is needed to restart a person's heart. Defibrillators cannot be used on someone who does not need one.
According to the British Heart Foundation, 60,000 people die every year in the UK from cardiac arrest - 38% of who are more likely to survive if they resuscitation and defibrillation.
Derek McDonagh, regional managing director of Macdonald, said: "It could mean the difference between life and death for someone having a cardiac arrest at one of our hotels. We welcome hundreds of thousands of guests every month and we felt it was our duty to provide this life-saving equipment."
In 2013, the life of 64-year-old legendary golfer Bernard Gallacher was saved after he suffered a cardiac arrest during an event at a hotel, which had a defibrillator.
Gallacher's nephew and Macdonald hotels golf ambassador, Stephen Gallacher, said: "My uncle wouldn't be here if there hadn't been a defibrillator on hand. Installing defibrillators is a fantastic idea, so many people come through Macdonald hotels every day and it will set people's minds at ease just knowing that there's one in the building."
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