New AED defib for Banana Moon Nursery

Little Hearts with Bright Futures is the mantra, and the latest addition to Banana Moon Day Nursery in Barnstaple will help protect all hearts, as they unveiled their new automated external defibrillator (AED) at their setting in Trafalgar Lawn, Newport.

Supplied by CardiAid, the new device is part of the wider Banana Moon franchise’s ‘Little hearts, bright futures’ initiative, which endeavours to see more than 50 Banana Moon nurseries across the UK have an AED installed by the end of 2023.

Lucie Rigler, Nursery Manager at Banana Moon Day Nursery in Barnstaple, commented: “Here at Banana Moon, the future of the next generation is at the heart of everything we do. Making this lifesaving equipment accessible will help us to ensure our little ones have the best chance of a bright future, no matter what life throws at us.

“Of course, it not only supports our children and staff, but the local area, too – we’re proud to have been part of the Barnstaple community for three years. Although we hope our defibrillator will never have to be used, we hope it gives reassurance to parents and the people who live, shop and work nearby.”

This initiative means members of the Newport, Barnstaple community are within minutes of the AED, boosting the survival chances of people who have an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

According to the British Heart Foundation (BHF), there are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in the UK – 20% of which happen in public places.1 What’s more, 270 cardiac arrests occur in UK schools each year.2

A defibrillator plays an essential part in the chance of bringing someone back from a cardiac arrest –delivering a high-energy electric shock to the heart. Using a defibrillator in addition to quality CPR can increase the odds of someone’s survival from around 6% to 74%, according to the BHF.3

Located in Trafalgar Lawn, Newport, Banana Moon has installed this lifesaving equipment in their reception area, meaning that it’s accessible to rescuers during nursery opening hours. The device will be registered with The Circuit national database4, as well as South Western Ambulance Service, who can direct 999 callers to the defibrillator and the code to access it, meaning vital treatment can commence prior to the ambulance arriving.

Kate and Douglas Neagle, owners of Banana Moon Day Nursery in Barnstaple, commented: “Choosing a nursery is one of the most important decisions parents face, which is why the reassurance they feel when leaving their children in our hands is of utmost importance to us.

“We hope that this investment in this lifesaving equipment will further demonstrate our commitment to safeguarding the little ones in our care, as well as serving the wider community.”

Banana Moon Day Nursery opened its doors in Barnstaple in 2020 and caters to children from three months old to school age. The nursery is part of the UK-wide Banana Moon franchise, which part self-funded and part fundraised the thousands of pounds needed to install the AED for the ‘Little hearts, bright futures’ initiative.

Kate Neagle concluded: “Our ‘Little hearts, bright futures’ defibrillator is a testament to the support we get from being a part of the Banana Moon franchise and their commitment to the health and well-being of everyone in our care. Here’s to little hearts and bright futures!”