LIVE-SAVING equipment has been donated to Warwickshire Police force by a bereaved Rugby mum’s charity.
The OurJay Foundation donated five defibrillators to the force, which are now being used in neighbourhood police vehicles covering Rugby, Leamington, Stratford, Nuneaton and North Warwickshire.
It brings the total number of police vehicle defibrillators in Warwickshire to 33.
Rugby woman Naomi Rees-Issitt set up the OurJay Foundation following the tragic death of her 18-year-old son Jamie Rees from a cardiac arrest in the early hours of New Year’s Day 2022.
She visited Rugby Police Station to hand the new equipment to Chief Inspector Angus Eagles.
She said: “We are all very hopeful that this news will result in more police vehicle defibrillators very soon. Small steps lead to big changes.
“We constantly question why the police are the only blue light service in England that doesn’t, as standard, carry defibrillators in their vehicles – yet they continue to be the first to reach so many emergency situations before other blue light services.
“Not only is this so concerning for the public and anyone in these emergency situations, but also for the officers that go to these scenes, without these vital pieces of equipment.
“We fight on in our campaign to make it mandatory for all police vehicles in the UK to carry defibrillators.”
The OurJay Foundation has so far installed over 310 defibrillators across Warwickshire and beyond, while raising awareness of their importance and providing training in life-saving skills.
A spokesperson for Rugby Police said officers were delighted with the new difibrillators.
They said: “There’s a special reason they were presented in Rugby – they’ve come about because of the inspirational work of Naomi.”
They added that the force’s officers were the first on the scene when Jamie went into cardiac arrest in 2022 and immediately began administering CPR.
“With an ambulance en route, we radioed for urgent back up from an officer who got hold of a defib and was racing over to bring it to us.
“But sadly, Jamie later passed away in hospital. Doctors believe that if there had been a defibrillator closer, Jamie might still be alive.
“We couldn’t be more proud of Naomi and everyone at OurJay.”
Visit www.ourjay.org.uk for more information on the charity.
