COVENTRY Skydome had a new community defibrillator and bleed control kit cabinet installed and are now available for use.
They were installed with support from Warwickshire Foundation – OurJay – which was formed in memory of Rugby teenager Jamie Rees who passed away of cardiac arrest in 2022.
Coventry BID funded the purchase of the defibrillator at Coventry Skydome, and the Skydome funded its installation.
Jamie enjoyed ice skating at Coventry Skydrome and last year the same was installed at HMV Empire Coventry, in recognition of Jamie’s love for music.
Coventry BID manager Joanne Glover said: “The equipment will be on standby 24/7 and ready to save lives, allowing people to act quickly if required in an emergency, which has been proven by the use of other defibrillators and bleed control cabinets already publicly accessible in the city centre.”
OurJay Foundation has now installed 140 defibrillators around the UK – the defibrillator at HMV Empire has been triggered eight times and the bleed kit has saved a life.
Naomi Rees-Issitt, Jamie’s mum and chair of the OurJay Foundation, said: “We have had a great response to the campaign in Warwickshire but now we are looking to expand the number of defibrillators in Coventry.
“Coventry is a special place for us and OurJay Foundation has great supporters in the city.
“Jamie used to go ice skating at the Skydome, so it is great to have the defibrillator now in place here.”
