Life saving equipment at Stratford station

Greater Anglia has installed life saving heart resuscitators on platforms at Stratford rail station in partnership with the London Ambulance Service.

The train operator received seven Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) after conducting a joint survey with the London Ambulance Service to identify requirements with the increased numbers of passengers passing through the station during the Olympic Games and since the opening of the new adjacent shopping mall, Westfield.

The Medtronic AEDs are small, safe and lightweight and deliver a shock to treat someone in cardiac arrest. They can also monitor the heart’s activity and give instructions to the users. There is compelling evidence that defibrillation at the earliest possible point after a person collapses can significantly increase their chances of survival.

All members of Greater Anglia staff at Stratford as well as the British Transport Police hub team based at the station have been trained in the use of the defibrillators by the London Ambulance Service.

Coronary heart disease is the single largest cause of death in England and statistics show that around12,000 people each year suffer cardiac arrest in a public place.

Greater Anglia’s Area Customer Service Manager, James Henry, said, “Stratford is a very busy station and we wanted to ensure that we were well prepared to provide assistance in the event of a first aid emergency. The defibrillators and training from the London Ambulance Service mean that my team can give potentially life saving first aid to our customers.”

The seven defibrillators are situated strategically around the station to enable easy access and there is one each in the following locations: Stratford Control Room/Information point, Platform 9 and 10 lift room, Platform 1 and 2 /12 (at the top of the stairs), Platform 3 and 5 Information point, Platform 10A and 11 customer information point, Western concourse and Eastern concourse (with the final three being managed by London Underground).