With cardiac arrests cited as a leading cause of death in the UK, Macdonald Hotels & Resorts is aiming to give its guests the best chance of survival, by installing lifesaving defibrillators at all 45 of its properties, including its five golf venues.
Around 60,000 people die every year in the UK from cardiac arrest, where the heart suddenly stops working, but research conducted by the British Heart Foundation shows that people suffering a cardiac arrest are 38% more likely to survive if they receive CPR and defibrillation.
The UK’s largest independently owned hotel group is one of the first in the UK to install defibrillators at all of its venues and has partnered with Green Cross Training to deliver first aid training and sessions to familiarise staff with the equipment.
The easy to use machines, approved by the British Heart Foundation, automatically identify if an electrical shock is needed to restart a person’s heart and cannot be used on someone who does not need one.
Keith Pickard, Group Director of Golf and Health & Fitness at Macdonald Hotels & Resorts, said: “Research suggests that early intervention is key to an individual’s chances of surviving a sudden cardiac arrest and the investment of £47,000 in the defibrillators could be the difference between life and death for the many thousands of guests we welcome each month.
“Macdonald Hotels & Resorts’ investment ensures we are one of the first hotel companies in the UK to install the lifesaving equipment, as well as train all of our staff, which will significantly reduce the amount of time someone who has had a cardiac arrest has to wait for defibrillation.”
Macdonald Hotels golf ambassador, Stephen Gallacher, has a very personal reason to support the defibrillators being installed. In 2013, Stephen’s uncle, former Ryder Cup Captain Bernard Gallacher, suffered a near fatal heart attack at a hotel in Aberdeen, but was saved as the venue had a defibrillator.
Stephen said: “My uncle wouldn’t be here if there hadn’t been a defibrillator on hand and my whole family is so thankful that the machine was available on the day. So many people come through Macdonald Hotels every day and installing defibrillators will set people’s minds at ease just knowing there’s one in the building.
“I’ve seen them used a couple of times and I know how invaluable they are, for me, it just completes what is already brilliant service offered at Macdonald Hotels.”
The defibrillators have been installed at Macdonald Aviemore Resort, Highlands, home of Spey Valley Golf Course, which hosts the annual SSE Scottish Hydro Challenge on the European Challenge Tour, Macdonald Cardrona Hotel, Golf & Spa, Edinburgh, Macdonald Linden Hall Golf & Country Club, Northumberland, Macdonald Hill Valley Hotel, Golf & Spa, Shropshire and Macdonald Portal Hotel, Golf & Spa, Cheshire.
Macdonald Hotels & Resorts www.MacdonaldHotels.co.uk