Latest news with #defibrillators
BBC News
7 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Appeal against York council decision to block help hubs
The company behind plans for five digital help hubs in York city centre offering free wi-fi, touchscreen maps and defibrillators has appealed a decision to block their hoped to install information points in Parliament Street, St Sampson's Square, Davygate and in April council planning officials refused the plans over their proximity to historic buildings and their impact on pedestrians and public advertising firm said thought had been given to the placement of the hubs and it had been open to changing locations if needed. The appeal is open for public comments until 10 July. Plans for the hubs, designed to replace public phone boxes, were submitted to the council in would have featured a 7.1ft (218cm) screen on one side for advertising with a 2.6ft (81cm) touchscreen and public phone on the promised facilities included charging ports powered by solar including Make It York and the York Disability Rights Forum, said the hubs would clutter streets and impact crowds during large events like York Christmas Market. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
The Independent
13-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Father made OBE for defibrillator campaign after 12-year-old son's death
A father whose 12-year-old son died following a cardiac arrest has been made an OBE after setting up a foundation which has saved more than 80 lives by providing defibrillators. Mark King's son Oliver suffered a cardiac arrest during a swimming lesson at school in Liverpool in 2011 and died from sudden arrhythmic death syndrome. The Oliver King Foundation has since given out 7,000 defibrillators, and Mr King's campaigning led to the Government ensuring every state school in England has access to one of the life-saving machines. He said: 'Our Ollie was only with us for 12 years but he never let us down once and this is us not letting his name down.' Mr King, 63, said when he first found out he was to be included in the King's Birthday Honours he thought the letter had gone to the wrong address. He said: 'I'm not one for awards, I just want to march on. I'm just a dad, that's it, I'm a dad. 'But, for an OBE to come through – I was cartwheeling in the garden!' He said Oliver was 'very sporty', 'always had a football under his arm' and was about to sign for Everton, but unknown to the family he had a genetic condition passed down from his father which led to his cardiac arrest. Mr King is working to set up a centre to provide testing for all children to see if they have the gene. He said: 'The morning that he had his cardiac arrest he was swimming. 'If you have this genetic condition that's the worst thing you can do… because when you go in the water, you know that little shock, it's an adrenalin rush, and that can send you into cardiac arrest. 'Unfortunately for us, that happened to our Ol.' Since the foundation was set up in 2012, Mr King has personally delivered all the defibrillators to schools, businesses and sporting venues as far north as Stornoway and as far south as Portsmouth. Mr King said 84 lives had been saved with the defibrillators, including a child as young as four. He said: 'When you get the emails through off the parents, I still get the same feeling as though it's the first one. I know it's not a tally but a life has been saved – maybe our Oliver's life would have been saved if someone would have done what we're doing now.' He said the lives had been saved in Oliver's name, adding: 'Not mine, I'm only carrying his torch.' The foundation, which also provides training to use the machines, has received support from former Liverpool footballer Jamie Carragher, as well as politicians including Liverpool Garston MP Maria Eagle, Lord Mike Storey and Lord Stuart Polak. Mr King, of Childwall, Liverpool, said he had dealt with six prime ministers during his time as a campaigner. He said: 'It's like setting a business up – you could fail or you could march on. In this particular case we marched on and got stronger and stronger and stronger. I don't have a reverse gear.' He said he plans to continue his campaign and is calling for a change in the law which would see defibrillators required in all public buildings, in the same way as fire extinguishers.
BBC News
13-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
OBE for dad who ran life-saving defibrillator campaign after son's death
A father whose 12-year-old son died following a cardiac arrest has been made an OBE after setting up a foundation which has saved more than 80 lives by providing King's son Oliver suffered a cardiac arrest during a swimming lesson at school in Liverpool in 2011 and died from sudden arrhythmic death Oliver King Foundation has since given out 7,000 defibrillators, and Mr King's campaigning led to the government ensuring every state school in England has access to one of the life-saving machines."Our Ollie was only with us for 12 years but he never let us down once and this is us not letting his name down," he said. Mr King, 63, said when he first found out he was to be included in the King's Birthday Honours he thought the letter had gone to the wrong address."I'm not one for awards, I just want to march on. I'm just a dad, that's it, I'm a dad."But, for an OBE to come through - I was cartwheeling in the garden!"He said Oliver was "very sporty", "always had a football under his arm" and was about to sign for Everton, but unknown to the family he had a genetic condition passed down from his father which led to his cardiac King is working to set up a centre to provide testing for all children to see if they have the gene."The morning that he had his cardiac arrest he was swimming," he said."If you have this genetic condition that's the worst thing you can do... because when you go in the water, you know that little shock, it's an adrenaline rush, and that can send you into cardiac arrest."Unfortunately for us, that happened to our Ol." Since the foundation was set up in 2012, Mr King has personally delivered all the defibrillators to schools, businesses and sporting venues as far north as Stornoway and as far south as King said 84 lives had been saved by the devices, including a child as young as four."When you get the emails through off the parents, I still get the same feeling as though it's the first one," he said."I know it's not a tally but a life has been saved - maybe our Oliver's life would have been saved if someone would have done what we're doing now."He said the lives had been saved in Oliver's name, adding: "Not mine, I'm only carrying his torch." The foundation, which also provides training to use the machines, has received support from former Liverpool footballer Jamie Carragher, as well as politicians including Liverpool Garston MP Maria Eagle, Lord Mike Storey and Lord Stuart King, of Childwall, Liverpool, said he had dealt with six prime ministers during his time as a said: "It's like setting a business up - you could fail or you could march on. In this particular case we marched on and got stronger and stronger and stronger. I don't have a reverse gear."He said he plans to continue his campaign and is calling for a change in the law which would see defibrillators required in all public buildings, in the same way as fire extinguishers. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
CTV News
30-05-2025
- General
- CTV News
100km walk in honour of fallen military and emergency services members
Patrick Armstrong and Heather Pham are getting ready to take part in a 100 kilometre walk this weekend, which will raise money to buy defibrillators to donate in honour of Ontario's fallen soldiers, paramedics, police officers, and firefighters. 'I personally believe that it is our duty as the living to tell the stories of those that have gone before,' said Armstrong. Armstrong started the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund in honour of his beloved friend and fellow OPP officer Dave Mounsey, who was killed in the line of duty in 2006. To date, 207 defibrillators have been donated by the Mounsey Fund to be placed in arenas, churches, community centres, and businesses across Ontario. One such defibrillator was recently donated to the North Huron Fire Department in honour of OPP Const. Vu Pham, killed in the line of duty in March 2010. Vu's son Jordan is a volunteer firefighter for the department. 100 km In a Day fundraiser Heather Pham with her son Jordan, donating a defibrillator to the North Huron Fire Department in May 2025, in honour of Vu Pham, an OPP officer killed in the line of duty in 2010. Jordan Pham is a volunteer firefighter with the North Huron Fire Dept. (Source: North Huron Fire Department) 'It's just so helpful for the family members to know that they're not alone, and that the sacrifice will always be remembered. Their loved ones will always be remembered,' said Heather Pham, Vu's wife. Heather Pham and two of her sons will be one of 20 families walking with Armstrong and members of the Mounsey Fund across Perth County this weekend. Their other son Josh Pham won't be there. He'll be on shift with the Parry Sound OPP, following in his late father's footsteps, starting in the same detachment 30 years after his father did. 'Josh has been for a long time talking about joining the OPP. So, I knew that it was coming. I'm not going to say that it was easy to see him drive off for his first shift, but as a parent, I want to support and honor his goals and dreams, despite my own anxieties,' said Heather. 100 km In a Day fundraiser Heather Pham with her son, Josh, who is now an OPP officer, following in his late father Vu's footsteps, seen in May 2025. (Source: Heather Pham) Along with Pham, fallen emergency responders like Captain Graham Emslie of the Sarnia Fire Service, who died in the line of duty in 2016, will be honoured during the 100 km walk. Members of North Perth Deputy District Fire Chief Ken Rea's family will take part. Rea died in the line of duty in Listowel in 2011. Master Corporal Anthony Klumpenhouwer will also be remembered. The Perth County native died in Afghanistan in 2007. 'We have the honour, not only of donating defibrillators out to the public, but to remember these fallen heroes and their families,' said Armstrong. 100 km In a Day fundraiser Patrick Armstrong walking in the 2024 100 km In a Day fundraiser. (Source: Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund) 'My family and I participate in the 100 Kilometre In a Day every year. And we will do so for as long as the fund continues to remember the sacrifice of our fallen first responders. In doing so, they create time and space to keep their memory alive. And not just for the family members, but for the community as a whole,' said Heather Pham. You can learn more and donate to buy more defibrillators, by following this link. You can follow their progress over the weekend, by following Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund on Facebook.
BBC News
12-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Plans submitted for 14 'smart hubs' in Newquay
A number of smart hubs which include access to defibrillators are set to be installed in and around a seaside Urban Innovation Company has submitted an application to Cornwall Council to site 14 of the hubs, which also offer the chance to make free phone calls, in and around application is being supported by the town council and Newquay Business Improvement District, the Local Democracy Reporting Service residents posting in community groups on social media have expressed concerns about obstruction on the streets, increased digital advertising and light pollution. 'Not in keeping' "They're totally unnecessary and will just add to the already overwhelming and messy/ugly street furniture in the town", one local resident on the application on the council planning portal, another person said the digital signs were "not in keeping with the surroundings".The respondent said this was particularly the case in terms of the one proposed for Headland Road, "as visitors to Newquay get their first glimpses of the view across the Fistral beach".The smart hubs, produced by a company called Pulse, would include touchscreens providing free phone calls and free would also include along with a built-in defibrillator and access to emergency treatment in the event of a drug overdose, as well as an emergency safety button to support anyone who is vulnerable and a 999 emergency button.A planning report said the proposals were supported by the Safer Cornwall Partnership, which recognised the hubs would deliver a range of benefits for residents, businesses and visitors to 14 proposed locations, which have been developed in collaboration with Newquay Town Council, Newquay BID, Devon and Cornwall Police and Cornwall Council, include Bank Street, Berry Road and Newquay Railway Station.
