Trenitalia-owned rail operator c2c has completed the installation of life-saving defibrillators at each of its 26 stations, significantly boosting community health and emergency response capabilities along its route between Fenchurch Street and Shoeburyness.
The defibrillators, now accessible 24 hours a day to the public, form part of a comprehensive initiative aimed at enhancing passenger safety and community welfare. These units can be operated by anyone, requiring no specialist training, and feature automatic sensors that ensure shocks are delivered only when necessary.
Margaret Mullane, MP for Dagenham and Rainham, welcomed the initiative, highlighting the critical difference defibrillators can make during cardiac emergencies. Mullane emphasised that fewer than one in ten individuals survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, making these installations potentially transformative for survival rates across the local community.
Rob Mullen, Managing Director at c2c, underscored the company’s commitment to health and safety: “The installation of defibrillators at every station demonstrates our dedication to the wellbeing of passengers and the broader community. Although we hope these devices will rarely be required, we are proud to ensure they are readily available if needed.”
The new defibrillator installations complement additional medical facilities provided by c2c, including Bleed Kits at seven major stations. These kits contain essential items like bandages, gauze, and tourniquets to address severe bleeding incidents.
A recent incident at Barking station highlighted the importance of such equipment. Customer Delivery Assistant Donna Ilett used the station’s defibrillator to successfully resuscitate a passenger who had collapsed from cardiac arrest. The swift response significantly contributed to saving the passenger’s life, further validating the value of these new installations.
Leah Cable, c2c’s Customer Delivery Manager who oversaw the installation project, reflected on the importance of this equipment, stating it was exactly for critical moments like these that the defibrillators were installed.
Details of the precise location of each defibrillator can be found through the British Heart Foundation’s Defib Finder.
