What a Defibrillator Costs in the UK and How to Cover it
It’s scary to think that anyone could go into cardiac arrest at any time. According to the British Heart Foundation, there are as many as 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests per year. A cardiac arrest is where the heart stops beating – and having a defibrillator on hand can help to save lives. Many organisations such as sports clubs get defibrillators installed nearby just in case the worst should happen and more and more are being put on the streets. Laypeople can use them and having access to one could help to save a life. It’s also possible to use GoFundMe and crowdfunding to fundraise for a defibrillator.
Ways to cover the cost of a defibrillator
A cardiac arrest is when the heart stops beating, and is no longer pumping blood around their body. It is different from a heart attack when the supply of blood to part of the heart stops.
You’ve probably seen hospital dramas when someone ‘codes’ and is brought back to life by a doctor shocking them while shouting ‘clear’.
This is a process that can be recreated out of hospital with by laypeople with defibrillator – and it can save lives.
Defibrillators are well designed, and will tell you what to do when using them. That means they only instruct people to deliver an electric shock if it is needed. Defibrillators can save lives – which it is why common for shops, workplaces, councils, community groups, schools and villages to fundraise for a defibrillator for the community.
How much does a defibrillator cost?
Princes range from £695.00 to £16,794.00, so you might need some help fundraising to cover the cost of a defibrillator.
Public grants
While there is no government support to buy defibrillators, public money from the National Lottery Fund has been used to fund 2,300 automated external defibrillators (AEDs). You can apply for a grant from the National Lottery to fund such a scheme, but they are unlikely to fund things on a one-off. The previous project bought 2,300 and was granted 6 million in funding.
Organisations that help
You can apply online for a grant from the British Heart Foundation to have a public access defibrillator in your area. There are, however, strict eligibility criteria.
The defibrillator needs to be available to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There also needs to be a clear reason why a person would need a thing, for example because it is in a place where a lot of people visit. Private businesses don’t make the cut, and the BHF will not provide funding to the police, military, school, colleges or GP surgeries.
Fundraising for a defibrillator
If a grant from the British Heart Foundation or National Lottery won’t work for you, why not consider personal crowdfunding? As well as the usual buckets and sponsorship forms, fundraising online could also be an option.
Be persuasive in your fundraiser, remember that if a sudden cardiac arrest happens – and it can happen to anyone – if CPR is performed and a defibrillator provided within 3-5 minutes survival chances can increase from 6% to 74%.
Fundraising stories
Defibrillator access to all park football pitches
Jack is a member of the Bracknell Sunday League. 30 minutes into a match, his teammate Doug collapsed on the field in front of 22 players and he didn’t have a pulse. Everyone rushed to help resuscitate Doug and thankfully, a defibrillator was less than 300 yards away. He was thankfully brought back to life after it was used. The incident brought attention to the fact that two other heavily used pitches in the area did not have defibrillator access – so Jack decided to start this GoFundMe to try and make that happen.
Ellie’s AED ( Defibrillator) gift to Tain
Ellie sadly passed away a few days after a cardiac arrest. Her friends and loved ones started this GoFundMe to try and raise money for a defibrillator to be installed in Tain in her honour. They said: “All money raised will go to the device and the all weather case. If we surpass the target we will donate any extra funds to the Intensive Treatment Unit at Raigmore Hospital where Ellie spent the last few days of her life.
“Please help us honour this wonderful woman who was taken from us too soon. No donation is too small.”
Help us get defibrillator machines in Bellshill
Paul decided to run a marathon and in turn raise money to get defibrillators in Bellshill. His brother Wullie has suffered kidney problems all his life and recently suffered two cardiac arrests. His son Vinnie was also born with a heart condition, so the cause is very close to his heart. He started this fundraiser in the hope of getting two defibrillators installed in the community.
Defibrillator(s) for the Alcester Park area
Christel lives in the Alcester Park area and was part of a group who helped a young man after he went into cardiac arrest. He was saved by a defibrillator so Christel started thinking about where her closest one was – so decided to fundraise to get one.
Get help today
If you’d like to organise to cover the cost of a defibrillator for your school, work, community, local shopping centre, or any other reason consider GoFundMe.
Our team of expert customer support agents are on hand to offer 24/7 advice, and there are a wealth of fundraising tips at your disposal.