What was the scheme?
Across the UK, there are more than 30,000 cardiac arrests outside hospital every year, but the survival rate is less than one in ten. The commercial aerospace company Airbus has been working with the British Heart Foundation for two years to help deliver a Nation of Lifesavers, improving survival rates for out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.
How did it help communities?
Seven volunteers acted as CPR champions, organising and promoting training sessions across each site. In addition to CPR training in the workplace, Airbus employees have been raising money to fund CPR kits for secondary schools. One hundred schools have so far benefited from their generosity, allowing the next generation to learn these life-saving skills.
Why did it win?
Airbus has trained 4,366 employees to date, almost half of its workforce. Two employees who had learned CPR were able to use their new skills to save the lives of their loved ones within weeks of training. Another employee suffered cardiac arrest on the factory floor and his life was saved by the quick thinking of his colleagues, CPR techniques and the use of a defibrillator.
What did the judges say?
"An excellent partnership that is activated across the workforce with impressive results," said Adam Nash, senior partnership manager at Macmillan Cancer Support. "A fantastic example of an employee engagement initiative that meets multiple objectives and has a long-lasting impact."
