Before we start this news story, we would just like to spare a thought for Keiran’s parents, Gordon and Sandra, for their tremendous bravery and courageous work they are doing amid this great personal loss and time of sorrow.

So, how exactly did we become involved in this great effort to help save future lives? – We were approached by Sandra to be involved with Kieran’s legacy. Sandra had evaluated the HeartSine Samaritan 500P Defibrillator in her role within the NHS and rightly noticed that it is an exceptional device and is more than just an AED.

After explaining the work she was proposing to carry out, Aero Healthcare are very pleased to support both Gordon and Sandra in any way possible to make their mission a success. We have supplied the ten defibrillators along with demonstrations to the police force highlighting the features and benefits of the HeartSine AED device(s).

Aero Healthcare were privileged to be at the event marking the “go live”.

We would like to thank Gordon and Sandra for this opportunity and we feel very privileged to be able to give them our ongoing support throughout this whole project.

Now for the main news story:

A pilot scheme which will see defibrillators donated for use in road policing vehicles by a family whose son died following a collision between his bike and a car has been launched in the North East.

Ten defibrillators have been donated by Sandra and Gordon McKandie following the death of their son Keiran McKandie, 16, when his bicycle and a car collided on the B9010 Kellas to Dallas road near Craigend, on March 20, 2016.

Mr and Mrs McKandie supported by their family and friends have fundraised tirelessly in order to fund the purchase of defibrillators which will be installed in police emergency response vehicles across the North East Police Division.

Today (Wednesday, 1 February) marks the first day the defibrillators are installed for use in emergency response vehicles.

The defibrillators have been distributed between Elgin, Inverurie, Mintlaw, Stonehaven and Aberdeen and will be deployed in cases of out of hospital cardiac arrests from road policing vehicles in support of Ambulance Service colleagues.

Deputy Chief Constable, Rose Fitzpatrick, Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest Strategic Lead, said: “Police Scotland is very grateful for the provision of 10 Automated External Defibrillators, kindly donated by Gordon and Sandra McKandie, as part of a positive and a lasting legacy following the tragic death of their son Keiran.

“Over the last three months more than 50 Road Policing officers from the North East have had advanced AED training to prepare them for this role, which will see both police and ambulance service staff deploy in partnership across the Grampian Region to enhance out-of-hospital cardiac arrest care provision.

“On a daily basis Police Scotland officers across the country provide support and assistance to our ‘blue light’ colleagues including the Scottish Ambulance Service, and this pilot will further strengthen those local partnerships as we all strive to keep people safe.”

Chief Inspector Louise Blakelock, Local Area Commander, Road Policing, North, said: “We are extremely grateful to Keiran’s family for the generous donation of ten defibrillator machines which will be carried in our road policing vehicles in the North East.

“The McKandie family are to be commended for their dedication to the fundraising campaign during such difficult times and these defibrillators will provide something positive from this tragic incident.

“The pilot will run initially for 6 months and then will be reviewed.

“A number of officers have been trained in the use of the defibrillators, with more to follow and this will allow our road policing officers to provide enhanced medical aid if required when they are first on the scene of serious incidents.”

Sandra McKandie, said: “Because Keiran was in a rural area when his accident happened the police were first on the scene and had they had a defibrillator there is a chance his life might have been saved. This is a first step and we hope that police are able to use the kit with ease. Nothing can compensate for Keiran not physically being in our lives anymore but the fact that these defibrillators are located in emergency response police vehicles will enable others in a critical condition to have an increased chance of survival.”

Euan Esslemont, Scottish Ambulance Service Area Manager, Grampian, said: “We look forward to trialling the co-responding initiative with Police Scotland and recognise the important role the McKandie family has played in establishing this pilot scheme.”

Local Senior Officer David Rout said: “I am delighted that the North East area will be receiving defibrillators in road policing vehicles as part of the fundraising efforts of the McKandie family.

“The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service is currently developing a Grampian Out of Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA) forum along with Police Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service and other partners such as Sandpiper Wildcat project to assist in delivering against the Scottish Government’s OHCA Strategy, which aims to dramatically increase patients’ survival chances and save as many as 1,000 lives by 2020.

“The SFRS continues to deliver the commitments made to the OHCA improvement programme which is crucial in terms of saving lives, improving patient outcomes and delivering an enhanced service to the local communities.”

‘Our hope is that through his sacrifice other lives may be saved and that something positive will come from such a tragic event.’ – Sandra McKandie

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