We’re delighted to share that Hype Dance has been awarded a free defibrillator by the British Heart Foundation (opens in a new tab).
It will be kept in a heated cabinet outside our studios at 60 Upper Allen Street. The cabinet is never locked, so anyone can reach the defibrillator straight away, 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Whether it’s needed during a class, by someone walking past, or by a neighbour in the middle of the night, it will be there.
Why it matters
When someone’s heart stops, every minute counts. Fewer than 1 in 10 people in the UK survive a cardiac arrest that happens outside hospital, but quick CPR and a defibrillator can more than double their chances. Having one close by can make all the difference while an ambulance is on its way.
Anyone can use it
You don’t need any training to use a defibrillator. Once it’s switched on, it talks you through every step, and it will only give a shock if one is needed.
If someone collapses and isn’t breathing normally:
- Call 999.
- Start CPR.
- The 999 call handler will tell you where the nearest defibrillator is. Send someone to fetch it while you keep going with CPR.
Once it’s installed, we’ll register our defibrillator on The Circuit (opens in a new tab), the national defibrillator network, so the ambulance service knows exactly where it is.
Looking after our community
The safety of our dancers, families and visitors has always mattered to us, and our staff are first aid trained. Having a defibrillator on our doorstep adds another layer of care, not just for everyone who comes to Hype, but for everyone who lives and works around Shalesmoor and Kelham Island.
Learn CPR with us
We’ll also be running a free Team RevivR session, using the British Heart Foundation’s CPR training, so you can learn how to help in an emergency. We’ll share the date soon. In the meantime, you can learn CPR in just 15 minutes with the BHF’s free online tool, RevivR (opens in a new tab).
A big thank you to the British Heart Foundation for making this possible. We’ll share an update once the defibrillator is installed, which we expect to be within the next couple of months.