Despite winning the accolade of Large Business of the Year in 2015, the Port of Dover has continued to advance with training, demonstrations and the promotion of the Port’s Automated External Defibrillators (AED’s). As a direct result of this work, the Port’s ship operators and external construction contractors have now gone on to purchase AED’s for their own sites and to train their own staff – not only in Dover, but at other locations around the UK where they operate.

Within the Port itself, equipment is located with the Harbour Patrol Launch providing cover for marine incidents; the Marina Office ensuring that visitors mooring at the Marina have access to advanced medical facilities and two units in the Port’s busy Cruise Terminal, catering for advanced care for cruise passengers. Redeployment of the AED locations this year has also allowed for mobile units to be utilised by the Port of Dover Police to provide a third ‘blue light’ response to areas within and outside of the Port. Investment was also made into ensuring all seven units have paediatric pads for the use on children, enhancing the flexibility of deployment.

As part of the continued promotion and use of AED’s, the Port delivered first aid and defibrillator training to staff on save a life days, Port-centric safety day and customer safety roadshows to the wider community.

This ongoing work has continued to provide necessary and immediate care. A recent case in point saw the deployment of the Port Police and safety personnel to the scene of a sudden cardiac arrest and the availability of equipment meant that two AED units were deployed to the scene allowing for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation within two minutes.

The judges were impressed by the Port’s improvement year on year, its outward looking approach and commitment and passion for AEDs.

The Port of Dover Lead Safety Advisor, Andy Stephens said: “Winning this award for a second year is a true representation of the investment of both the Port and its staff in committing to create a safer environment for colleagues, the wider Port community and the travelling public. It further endorses the work being undertaken with the local community and the training provided to local clubs and organisations, and also has a positive impact with close business partners who have been further influenced to enhance their own AED and basic life support provisions as a result.”