Latest news with #GWAAC
Yahoo
02-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Gym challenge raises £1k for air ambulance charity
A group of fitness enthusiasts have raised £1,000 for a lifesaving charity by lifting the equivalent weight of 37 air ambulances. Members of CrossFit Paratus in Gloucester lifted 118,700lbs (53,835kg) to thank Great Western Air Ambulance for funding a public access defibrillator installed outside their gym. Participants also cycled, rowed or skied the equivalent of 80 rugby pitches (37,795ft or 11,520m), while learning CPR and how to use the defibrillator to save a life. It comes after gym co-owners Dan Smart and Sarah Blandford's elderly parents joined the CrossFit sessions and they wanted to implement extra precautions. The pair said they wanted to ensure as many people as possible knew how to use the defibrillator in the event of an emergency. "My parents are both in their 70s and, when they started doing CrossFit with us, we knew there was an importance to have something nearby," said Ms Blandford. "What we do is high intensity, so we wanted to make sure we're protected if anything does happen, but hopefully we never need to use it." CrossFit workouts typically consist of functional movements such as rowing, running, cycling, with added elements including gymnastics or weightlifting. The oldest participant to take part in the challenge was Ms Blandford's father Dave, aged 76, with the youngest being just five-years-old. Ms Blandford explained the gym runs an over-50s fitness class, but emphasised that a cardiac arrest could can happen to anyone. In the UK, cardiac arrest kills 12 fit and healthy young people aged between 14 and 35 every week, according to the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC). If a defibrillator is used within the first three to five minutes to restore a normal heartbeat, survival rates jump from 6% to 74%. On average, each mission costs around £2,200 for GWAAC's critical care team to attend, which is financed through donations and fundraising. Emma Fawcett, supporter engagement coordinator for the GWAAC said: "As a charity entirely reliant on our local community to keep providing our service, we are delighted that Paratus has chosen to support GWAAC in this challenge. "To also have the opportunity to train more local people how to save a life is an added bonus and helps us towards improving health outcomes for everyone in our community." Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Record number of callouts for air ambulance 'Immensely important' defibrillators installed in city Campaigners successfully fill town with life-saving machines Great Western Air Ambulance Charity CrossFit Paratus
BBC News
02-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Gloucestershire gym raises £1k for Great Western Air Ambulance
A group of fitness enthusiasts have raised £1,000 for a lifesaving charity by lifting the equivalent weight of 37 air of CrossFit Paratus in Gloucester lifted 118,700lbs (53,835kg) to thank Great Western Air Ambulance for funding a public access defibrillator installed outside their also cycled, rowed or skied the equivalent of 80 rugby pitches (37,795ft or 11,520m), while learning CPR and how to use the defibrillator to save a comes after gym owners Dan Smart and Sarah Blandford's elderly parents joined the CrossFit sessions and they wanted to implement extra precautions. The pair said they wanted to ensure as many people as possible knew how to use the defibrillator in the event of an emergency."My parents are both in their 70s and, when they started doing CrossFit with us, we knew there was an importance to have something nearby," said Ms Blandford. "What we do is high intensity, so we wanted to make sure we're protected if anything does happen, but hopefully we never need to use it."CrossFit workouts typically consist of functional movements such as rowing, running, cycling, with added elements including gymnastics or oldest participant to take part in the challenge was Ms Blandford's father Dave, aged 76, with the youngest being just five-years-old. Ms Blandford explained the gym runs an over-50s fitness class, but emphasised that a cardiac arrest could can happen to anyone. In the UK, cardiac arrest kills 12 fit and healthy young people aged between 14 and 35 every week, according to the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC).If a defibrillator is used within the first three to five minutes to restore a normal heartbeat, survival rates jump from 6% to 74%. On average, each mission costs around £2,200 for GWAAC's critical care team to attend, which is financed through donations and fundraising. Emma Fawcett, supporter engagement coordinator for the GWAAC said: "As a charity entirely reliant on our local community to keep providing our service, we are delighted that Paratus has chosen to support GWAAC in this challenge. "To also have the opportunity to train more local people how to save a life is an added bonus and helps us towards improving health outcomes for everyone in our community."
