In a pioneering project, life-saving defibrillators have been fitted to all bin collection lorries in the East Riding.
Thought to be the first scheme of its kind in the UK, East Riding of Yorkshire Council has installed the machines to its entire fleet of refuse trucks in order to help if any medical emergencies occur while the bin crews are out and about on their rounds in the community.
All 72 bin lorries now carry the defibrillators. That will increase to more than 80 with the roll-out of weekly brown bin food waste collections in the East Riding, which began in February.
The council’s bin crews will receive training in CPR and how to use the defibrillators.
Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) are portable devices that deliver an electric shock to the heart during sudden cardiac arrests to restore its normal rhythm. They are designed for public use in emergencies while waiting for an ambulance to arrive.
They are easy to use, without training, and have been proved to increase patient survival rates by more than 70%.
The innovative £60,000 project is being funded thanks to a Government grant the council received to improve road safety and reduce casualties.
The council has partnered with Beverley-based company Act Fast First Aid to secure the defibrillators. The firm is also delivering bespoke training for the bin crews for free.
The authority is in talks with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service to try to arrange real-time tracking of its bin lorries, so the nearest trucks can be located quickly if a defibrillator is ever needed by first responders or local volunteers.
Two of the council’s road safety vehicles have also been fitted with the equipment as they travel across the East Riding.
Councillor Paul West, the council’s cabinet member for environment and transport, said: “We believe this is the first time in the UK that defibrillators have been fitted to bin lorries and I’m delighted the East Riding is leading the way.
“Our bin lorries travel thousands of miles on their rounds each week, visiting some of the most rural and remote places in the East Riding, so they are perfect to carry these life-saving devices just in case they are needed.
“I am particularly proud that all our bin crews will play a vital role in this project and will help to enhance our commitment to protecting lives, supporting residents and staff and make our communities safer.”
Andrew Fowler, refuse collection lorry driver and crew member, said: “I think it’s a good thing, especially in some rural areas we go to, there’s still some places that don’t have defibrillators, so I think it’s great for people to have access to these machines.
“We are out everywhere, everyone can see us, I think it’s just an added extra to everything we do.
“Hopefully we don’t have to use them but, obviously, if we do, we’re there and we’ll be able to offer support for anybody that needs them.”
All drivers working for East Riding of Yorkshire Council receive annual first aid training which includes CPR, but all bin crews will be trained for this initiative.
The defibrillators will all be maintained and serviced as part of regular checks to all council vehicles.
The council is committed to the Vision Zero principle – that no road death or serious injury is acceptable and is committed to improving road safety, protecting lives, supporting residents, and making our communities safe.
As a key member of the Safer Roads Humber Partnership, the council at the forefront of adopting new ways to improve road safety.
