A potentially life-saving defibrillator machine is the latest installation at our Sheffield trade counter - the newest of many upgrades since the severe flooding damage back in late 2019.
Defibrillators are easy to use and significantly improve the chance of survival for someone having a cardiac arrest, which can strike at any age.
Located near the first aid cabinet in the fittings area, the automated machine detects if the stricken person's heart is beating, or has an irregular beat, and then delivers controlled electric shocks to restart the heart, if needed. It is highly portable (no bigger than a large handbag) and comes with a kit containing everything required by the user.
The defibrillator gives out clear, spoken instructions to the user and is clearly labelled for easy operation, and while it doesn't require specialist training there has been an introductory session for all staff.
Mike Dawson, our Sheffield Branch Manager, says: "Having the defibrillator shows HPP have a commitment the staff's wellbeing and safety, and that of our customers. It's a great thing to have - we just hope we never have to use it!"
Since the floods that drowned large swathes of South Yorkshire and badly damaged many residential and business properties, we've gutted and renovated our Sheffield base that had ended up under several feet of water.
Worst hit was the ground floor, along with the main warehouse, which took months to dry out and clean up before renovations could begin.
That work was finished last summer, but while the upstairs was spared the damage, the office space, canteen and toilets were left looking rather tired and so another makeover began.
The latest job was to upgrade the toilets and washroom, which is now complete to bring the whole place up to scratch and the final upgrade has seen the installation of a fast door to the warehouse to keep the wind out and the place warmer.
Mike adds: "We have fully refurbished our offices with new walls, floors, desks, everything. We then moved on to the kitchen, where we extended it and again replaced everything to make it brand new. The staff toilets were completely stripped out and replaced with new throughout.
"The branch had been due for a refurb for a while but then we had the flood followed by Covid which delayed things, but now it's been done it provides a much cleaner, brighter and more pleasant environment for everyone."
