My personal story and impetus is that it is 40 years ago this year that my mum, Frances, died after a cardiac arrest in the street at the age of 46. I understand that she did receive defibrillation from the ambulance crew but it was too late. 

Additionally during attendance of a refresher First Aid course last year, I was further reminded about the value of a defibrillator and the important life-saving role that they can play in helping the victims of a cardiac arrest survive.

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) or defibrillator is a life-saving device that can help save the life of someone experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest. They are easy to use, and portable, with clear step-by-step instructions so anyone can use them, from a bystander to a trained professional. 

The device checks the person’s heart rhythm and will only tell you to give them a shock if it’s needed. You cannot shock yourself or someone else accidentally.

• use of a defibrillator is a key part of first aid management when someone has a cardiac arrest. Importantly, if a defibrillator is used within 5 minutes of the cardiac arrest the chances of survival are 50 - 70% with the success rate deteriorating with each passing minute so that by 10 minutes the survival rate is only 20%!
• the majority of cardiac arrests occur in the home (72%) or the workplace (15%)
• the recommendation is that a defibrillator should be readily available within 300 metres of a cardiac incident to allow the collection and use within 6 minutes of the person collapsing for maximum effect.

So, why Portsmouth, and why now? 

Portsmouth is a highly populated city with significant housing and commercial development. The city numbers increase with visitors to the city for attendance at sports activities, local attractions, University students, local shops, and festivities. 

In Portsmouth we currently have 221 defibrillators where only  62.4% (n = 138) are available 24 hours a day.  Therefore I aim to raise enough money for forty more defibrillators accessible 24 hours for Portsmouth. It is an ambitious goal but 40 would commemorate the time since my mum died in 1984 hence the title Forty 4 Frankie.

As well as having more defibrillators near Portsmouth homes, for maximum impact we also need to raise awareness of where this equipment is located and increase confidence in administering first aid and the use of a defibrillator.  

Please donate whatever you can and help this project install more Automated Emergency Defibrillators (AED) on the streets of Portsmouth and improve the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest.

If you would like more information please visit our support website at www.forty-4-frankie.co.uk

If you are making a donation and live in Portsmouth and know your council ward, please let us know which ward you live in so that we can: 
Approach your ward for some matched funding. Try to use your donation for your ward, if appropriate.

Thank you.

Lynn Timms