Getting to the heart of safe travel

Chief Inspector Rachel Buckle, Metrolink Director Peter Cushing, Sergeant Cecilia Oakley and NWAS Community Resuscitation Manager David McNally

Officers from the Travelsafe Unit (TSU) will have their finger on the pulse when it comes to saving lives this Christmas.

Working in partnership with North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) – which has placed five Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) with the unit – all TSU officers have now been trained to use the emergency equipment, which can help to restart someone’s heart if it has stopped beating.

Four defibrillators are mobile units that officers will carry with them while patrolling the bus and tram network. A fifth will be stored in a vehicle used by the unit.

Officers will be carrying the equipment for the first time on Friday (18 December) as part of Operation Sleigh – a dedicated travel operation aimed at ensuring commuters get home safely on “Mad Friday”.

Led by Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) and Greater Manchester Police (GMP), the Travelsafe Unit provide regular patrols on the region’s bus and tram networks.

TfGM’s Metrolink Director, Peter Cushing, said: “This is an excellent initiative and a great example of partnership working.

“Passenger safety is our primary concern and once again we are showing that we are putting their wellbeing at the heart of our operations. Undoubtedly, having this equipment on every deployment can potentially save lives.”

Sergeant Cecilia Oakley said: “Time is crucial when it comes to treating a person suffering a cardiac arrest and quick actions must be taken to give the patient the best chance of survival.

“This is why I’m really grateful to be working on this initiative with Transport for Greater Manchester and North West Ambulance Service as it could ultimately save lives.”

David McNally, Community Resuscitation Manager for NWAS, said: “We are delighted to be working once again with TfGM and the officers from the Travelsafe Unit on this initiative, as it will ultimately equip the officers to potentially save lives. It builds upon previous work with TfGM where all major bus stations have had AEDs provided and made accessible.

“In the event of a person suffering a cardiac arrest, quick actions must be taken in order to ensure the patient has the best possible chance of survival, with officers having the equipment available it builds upon the Chain of Survival principles.

“It has been proven that when a person suffers a cardiac arrest, the chances of survival decrease by up to 14 per cent for every minute that passes without intervention. Ultimately, effective CPR and defibrillation ensures the patient has the best chance of survival.”