News

This page was updated on: Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Life-Saving Gift for Rescue Team

Visitors to Lepe Beach and sailors of the Solent can now feel safer in the knowledge that members of the Venturers Search and Rescue are the proud new owners of two Marine Heart Start Defibrillators, for use on both land and sea.

Venturers Search and Rescue, a charity based organisation that relies heavily on donations, was able to purchase these vital pieces of equipment after a donation of £1,900 from Esso and ExxonMobil Chemical at Fawley.

Captain Pearce-Smith, the Executive Officer of the Venturers, applied for a donation after five Venturers qualified as trained 'First Responders'.

This enables them to use the defibrillators, and respond to distress calls in and around the Solent.

A close working relationship exists between the Venturers and the Coastguard, which has been strengthened now that the Venturers own the defibrillators.

Captain Pearce-Smith commented, "It has been shown that there is a narrow time window during which the use of a defibrillator can sometimes restart a heart.

Thanks to ExxonMobil, our trained 'First Responders', and our high speed rescue boats, the Venturers can now provide a valuable service for the Coastguard and sailors in the Solent."

Anna Holden-Booth of ExxonMobil says, "It was wonderful to go down to Lepe where the Venturers are stationed and see the work that they do.

They are a remarkable group of young people and I am pleased that they are able to develop new skills whilst helping others as a result of our donation."