STAFF at a Chandler’s Ford company have received training that could save a colleague’s life.

Selwood, one of the UK’s largest plant and pump rental companies, recently installed their own defibrillators after two employees were diagnosed with heart problems.

The importance of automated external defibrillators, which they bought from St John Ambulance, was highlighted last year when premier league footballer Fabrice Muamba collapsed during a game.

Twelve of Selwood’s members were trained by St John Ambulance in how to use AEDs after two employees at their headquarters were diagnosed with heart problems.

The company then went on to install AEDs at all 28 of their sites across the country.

Chris Garrett, Selwood managing director, said: “We take the health and safety of our staff and our duty of care to our visitors extremely seriously and when we learnt we had employees who are potentially at a higher risk of heart problems we took action. We hope we never have cause to use our AEDs but have the peace of mind that if the worst should happen we are prepared. At the end of the day it’s an investment which could save lives.”

The machine shocks the heart back into action and can be operated by anyone. In the UK, 13 per cent of all workplace casualties are cardiac arrest victims, and for each minute that passes without defibrillation, the chances of survival fall by up to 10 per cent.

Ralph Brown, training manager for St John Ambulance in the South East, said: “We are delighted that Selwood has taken this responsible step in deciding to install AEDs and we would very much like to see more businesses, schools and local institutions such as medical practices, leisure facilities and community centres following their lead. We hope that they will never have cause to use their AED but highly commend them for being prepared.”