Life-saving defibrillator donated to Great British Car Journey

Published: 05/01/2023

A lifesaving defibrillator has been donated to Derbyshire classic car visitor attraction, Great British Car Journey in Ambergate.

The defibrillator has been donated to the museum by EPC-UK, a leading UK company in the field of commercial explosive and blasting services based in nearby Alfreton. 

To ensure easy access, the new defibrillator is situated within the attraction’s main display, which features more than 140 classic cars. Staff at Great British Car Journey have also received training on how to use the life-saving piece of equipment.

There are around 60,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests that occur every year in the UK. Research has shown that deploying a defibrillator within 3–5 minutes of collapse can result in survival rates as high as 50–70%.

The donation was prompted by Great British Car Journey’s driving instructor, Tony Bird who assists with the attraction’s unique Drive Dad’s Car experience at weekends. Tony is also an employee of EPC-UK where he is the Driver Training Manager and Emergency First Aid Instructor.

He explained: “I’m only too aware, through my professional role, of just how vital CPR training with access to a defibrillator can be in an emergency cardiac arrest situation. Having the right skills and equipment can enable an individual to instigate an immediate and often life-saving response until a paramedic or ambulance team arrives."

“I spoke to EPC-UK’s Head of Human Resources, Julie Wootton, who champions and organises our defibrillator fundraising efforts, and requested one of the donations be made here. Supporting my passion for both the museum and public safety, she didn’t hesitate to help.”

The defibrillator donation to Great British Car Journey is one of 25 that EPC-UK has made to date to benefit public-use facilities, thanks to the fundraising efforts of the company’s employees, partners and associates.

Julie Wootton said: “We’re extremely pleased to be able to provide the museum with our latest, fundraised piece of defibrillator equipment, enabled as a result of money raised at our 2022 EPC-UK Charity Golf Day. Our employees, partners and associates will be nominating more public use organisations, like Great British Car Journey, who will benefit from receiving both a defibrillator and user training from EPC-UK.”

With thousands of people visiting the attraction each year, the new defibrillator is a welcome addition to the popular attraction. Richard Usher, founder and CEO of Great British Car Journey, said: “We are delighted, thanks to the kind generosity of EPC-UK, to now have a defibrillator at Great British Car Journey. In the same way that British car designs transformed motoring across the world, so too has another Great British invention - the portable defibrillator.  It seems a fitting fact that the very first model created in 1965 by Frank Pantridge operated from car batteries.”

The defibrillator handover took place during a EPC-UK teambuilding event at Great British Car Journey. Senior managers from the company enjoyed an off-site management meeting at Great British Car Journey, which included a Drive Dad’s Car experience. The team drove the 1938 Wolseley, a classic Mini, Ford Capri, Morris Marina, Austin Allegro and Jaguar V12 from the Drive Dad’s Car fleet.

Ben Williams, Managing Director of EPC-UK, drove the Wolseley. He said: “I liked the idea of driving a pre-war car, also, it’s given me an excuse to wear my peaky blinders’ hat!”

Ben Coppock, General Manager Blasting and Explosives at EPC-UK, drove the Jaguar V12. He said: “I’ve never driven a Jag or a V12 so this has been my chance to enjoy this classic slab of British engineering.”

The award-winning visitor attraction and Drive Dad’s Car experience are open throughout the year. Visit www.greatbritishcarjourney.com to find out opening times.