SPAR Ireland has launched a new community initiative, which aims to deliver a life-saving defibrillator at every EUROSPAR Supermarket. There are currently 50 EUROSPAR Supermarkets nationwide ensuring new defibrillators become available throughout the country - many in areas where a defibrillator is not currently available.

Michael Lyster of RTÉ (Radio, Television Ireland) was on hand to help launch the initiative at the Radisson Blu St. Helen’s Hotel in Dublin with Malachy Hanberry, EUROSPAR Managing Director and David Menzies, Co Chair and Medical Director, Cardiac First Responders Ireland. Michael suffered a cardiac arrest in 2015 and had to be resuscitated by the Cardiac First Responders. Therefore, he fully understands the importance of publically accessible defibrillators in our communities: “I am delighted to help launch the Defibrillator at every EUROSPAR Supermarket initiative as this equipment can really mean the difference between life and death. Having a defibrillator in a public space raises the profile of heart disease and ensures that people know where to find one when an emergency occurs. I look forward to the day when every EUROSPAR Supermarkets has a defibrillator in place,” he said.

The Defibrillator at every EUROSPAR Supermarket initiative will raise funds for the installation of a publically accessible, automatic external defibrillator (AED) located outside the EUROSPAR Supermarket. Funds will be raised through instore collection, community fund-raising activities and contributions from the sale of a selection of SPAR Own Brand products.

According to Malachy Hanberry, EUROSPAR Managing Director, “EUROSPAR Supermarkets are located at the heart of local communities. Therefore we wanted to come up with an initiative that looks after the well-being of the people in our communities and what better way than to install defibrillators outside our stores. EUROSPAR is focused, in a very tangible way, on helping to save lives in your local community.”

EUROSPAR, in partnership with CFR Ireland, will provide “chain of survival” awareness and CPR training in the local community as well as training for retailers and staff members. This training and awareness will be carried out by local Community First Responders to coincide with the installation of the AED at local stores.

Each AED is automated to produce a report tracking the status of the machine and highlighting any issues on a daily basis. It is EUROSPAR’s intention that each AED will be registered on the National Ambulance Service (NAS), CFR Ireland and other local defibrillator databases.