After saving the life of a customer, staff from an optician with branches across the Reading area swapped eye charts for trainers to raise funds for a charity that teaches first aid.
Team members from Specsavers ran in last month’s the Reading Half Marathon to raise funds for St John Ambulance and awareness of the importance of life-saving defibrillators on the high street.
Senior optometrist Jasmine Colkett and store manager Mark King from Specsavers Reading raised more than £300 for St John Ambulance, a volunteer-led, charitable organisation dedicated to the teaching and practice of first aid.
They joined more than 5,300 runners to complete the 13.1-mile route around the town centre and grounds of the university campus.
After receiving training from St John Ambulance on how to perform life-saving CPR and use a defibrillator, the Broad Street store’s first aiders had to put their newly learnt skills to the test last month when customer, 88-year-old Eric Pink, went into cardiac arrest in the store. Quick-thinking team members, including store manager, Jan Flack and director Hashin Hirani performed CPR until paramedics took over and then used the in-store defibrillator, saving his life.
Eric’s son, Simon, said: “My family and I would like to praise and thank the staff for their swift actions, especially to Jan who quite simply saved my father’s life. He’s now home and on the mend.”
Store director Ravi Bhardwaj was proud of his team for practising what they learnt.
“A cardiac arrest can happen at any time and thanks to the first aid training provided by St John Ambulance, Eric’s life was saved. As a result, we were all keen to show our gratitude by supporting the volunteer-led charity,” he said.
“Luckily, we have some sporty team members who were keen to take part in the Reading Half to raise much-needed funds and spread the word that we have life-saving defibrillators in our Reading store.”
Ms Colkett added:”‘I think I can speak for Mark and say that the half marathon certainly was a challenge, but we couldn’t be happier with our donation total.”
