A new publicly accessible defibrillator and bleed kit have been installed outside McDonald’s in Stroud, giving local residents access to vital emergency equipment that could help save lives.
The installation has been made possible by local McDonald’s Franchisee Paul Toner in partnership with Gloucestershire Police and Stroud Safe, further strengthening the restaurant’s commitment to supporting the local community.
The defibrillator is registered on The Circuit, the national defibrillator network linked directly to emergency services, enabling call handlers to quickly direct people to the equipment in an emergency. Defibrillators can be used when someone suffers a cardiac arrest, while bleed kits provide essential equipment to help control catastrophic bleeding following serious incidents.
Together, the two pieces of equipment provide the community with immediate access to potentially lifesaving resources when every second counts.
As part of its ongoing support for the Stroud community, the restaurant regularly serves as a hub for local policing teams, hosting meetings and providing a welcoming space for residents to engage with local first responders.
Paul Toner, who owns and operates eight McDonald’s restaurants across the region, said: “At McDonald’s, we pride ourselves on being a good neighbour in the communities we serve, and with the introduction of this easily accessible defibrillator and bleed kit, we hope to do our part to help save lives.
“During opening hours, every McDonald’s restaurant in the UK has a fully trained first aider on hand, and the addition of this equipment at our Stroud restaurant significantly increases the chances of survival for individuals in need of life-saving assistance.
“I’m keen to raise awareness of their existence in our local community so people have peace of mind that these vital resources are close at hand.”
The new defibrillator and bleed kit are located outside McDonald’s, Merrywalks, Stroud, GL5 3BE, where they are available for use by the community in an emergency.
