19 October 2014
Beeren Plantproducts: a heart of gold
15-10-2014 Beeren Plantproducts recently acquired an automated external defibrillator (AED) to take fast action in the event of sudden cardiac arrest. A defibrillator shocks the heart into a normal rhythm using electrical currents. In seventy per cent of all cases, the administration of standard CPR is largely ineffective or insufficient.
Research has shown that prompt treatment can have a positive impact on survival rates. An external defibrillator can save valuable time while waiting for the ambulance to arrive. The closest AED is currently located three kilometres away.
When John Beeren decided to buy his own AED, he quickly thought of a way to help others in the community by inviting all of his own employees and all emergency response officers from neighbouring businesses to attend a training session on using the AED. Beeren Plantproducts then decided to take it one step further by inviting other neighbours from the local community.
With an eye towards the local health policy, the Leudal City Council decided to set up an AED and volunteer network in the community. The network has been aptly called Hart voor Leudal (‘Heart for Leudal’). The AED and the volunteers at Beeren Plantproducts are closely affiliated with this initiative.
John Beeren: "I hope we never have to use the defibrillator, but if we do, all of our neighbours and all of the emergency response officers from nearby businesses are free to use it.” In Beeren’s opinion, the rural community of Neer just became a little safer.
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