Latest news with #OurJayFoundation
BBC News
2 days ago
- Health
- BBC News
Warwickshire Police cars to get more defibrillators after campaign
Defibrillators will be installed in 28 specialist police cars across Warwickshire following a Police said the Home Office initially offered forces across the country 14 defibrillators each but following negotiations, the county was awarded lifesaving devices will be placed in the force's dog and firearms follows a campaign by the OurJay Foundation which was set up after the death of 18-year-old Jamie Rees, from Wolvey. The charity wants defibrillators in more police vehicles across the UK. Naomi Rees-Issitt described how officers were first on scene when her son collapsed but despite administering CPR, were unable to save later said Jamie might have lived if officers or the public had had quicker access to a mum said: "If [police] had just had that defibrillator in their vehicle, there was a really good chance that Jamie would have got defibrillation much quicker and could probably be standing here today." Her charity is campaigning for Jamie's Law, which would see defibrillators become mandatory in a higher percentage of police vehicles across the country."They are being put in literally this week, which is fantastic, and we're working with Warwickshire Police on installing accessible defibrillators across all the police stations in Warwickshire as well."Assistant chief constable Clare Armes said the force would have "more devices out there to save lives".She said officers and PCSOs could be first at the scene of emergencies and often had to administer first aid until it was safe for other agencies to come in."Many lives have been saved over the years because officers and staff have administered CPR and other emergency first aid," she said. "We see these defibs as another part of our first aid toolkit." Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
BBC News
24-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Defibrillator installed at animal sanctuary in Wolvey in son's memory
A family-run charity has installed a defibrillator at an animal sanctuary in memory of their animal-loving son, who died of a cardiac arrest at the age of Rees, from Wolvey in Warwickshire, collapsed and later died on New Year's Day in 2022. There was a defibrillator near the scene, but his friends soon realised it was locked inside a school, so they were unable to access then, the OurJay Foundation was set up by Jamie's family to fundraise and install defibrillators across Rugby, Warwickshire, and even further week, the charity installed a community defibrillator at the Nuneaton and Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, on Oaston Road in Nuneaton. Jamie's mother and the chair of the OurJay Foundation, Naomi Rees-Issitt, said she was thrilled to be able to combine the ability to help people with helping animals through the installation of the defibrillator at the Rees-Issitt said: "One of Jamie's biggest passions and loves when he was with us was animals. "He loved foxes - we used to live in a village, and he walked the lanes to try and see foxes. "He had a passion for any animal. He used to rescue them. If he ever saw one in distress, he'd be the first to pull over and try to help."When visiting the sanctuary for the installation, Mrs Rees-Issitt told her husband: "It's somewhere Jamie would have absolutely loved to visit." Geoff Grewcock runs the sanctuary with his daughter, Emma said: "It is fantastic that two charities with saving lives at the heart of them can come together to provide something so crucial for the community."The process is simple. If the equipment is needed, just call 999 and read them the location on the box, and they will issue a code and instructions."Everyone in the town knows where the sanctuary is, so it couldn't be easier for people to access in the event of an emergency.""It was an absolute joy to work with Geoff and Emma," Mrs Rees-Issitt said. "We absolutely love to work with other charities. A lot wouldn't be able to afford to buy a defibrillator." So far, the OurJay Foundation has installed 259 defibrillators that are accessible to the community 24/7, alongside 60 in Snap Fitness gyms and 61 portable pitch-side defibrillators at sports Rees-Issitt said that so far, they were aware of 16 lives that had been saved through their defibrillators, as well as one life saved through one of their bleed kits, which are kept alongside the defibrillators, after a stabbing in one occasion, she received a bouquet of flowers from a woman who said the defibrillator had saved her mum's life. Follow BBC Coventry & Warwickshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
