25 April 2007 00:00 Central Networks helping to save lives in Lincolnshire

Volunteers at the Lincolnshire Integrated Voluntary Emergency Service (LIVES) will be buying life saving equipment thanks to a donation from local electricity distribution company Central Networks, part of E.ON UK.

Fred Goodyear, a volunteer at LIVES for the past 18 months, works as a Cable Jointer in Sleaford for Central Networks and has been employed with the company for 41 years.

The company donated £250 to buy medical equipment, including two pulseometers for the Spalding-based volunteer group which assists the local ambulance service to respond to 999 calls.

“We work with the East Midlands ambulance service to respond to emergency calls,” said Fred.

“If an ambulance is a long way away from the emergency, we’ll be despatched to offer medical assistance to stabilise the patient and make sure they’re comfortable until the paramedics arrive.

“I volunteer two nights a week with LIVES and it gives me such satisfaction and peace of mind to know that we’re able to help people in their hour of need.
We go to any type of emergency call and our aim is to get to all incidents within six minutes of receiving the call – which can mean the difference between life and death.

“As we rely entirely on fundraising and donations to purchase essential equipment, the cash from Central Networks is greatly appreciated and will help to ensure that the valuable service we offer continues.”

Central Networks is part of E.ON, the UK’s largest integrated power and gas company. E.ON supports its employees by recognising and rewarding the voluntary activities undertaken in their own time.

Ends

Notes to editors:
• Central Networks is the new name for Midlands Electricity and East Midlands Electricity. The company brings power to 4.9 million customers across Central England through 133,000km of underground and overhead cables – enough to go round the Earth almost four times – and via almost 97,000 substations;
• E.ON UK supports its employees’ favourite charities by matching funds raised through sponsorship and other activities undertaken in employees’ own time;
• E.ON UK donates grants of up to £250 to charities and not for profit organisations in recognition of any employee who has volunteered for more than 80 hours of personal time. In 2006, E.ON donated a total of £34,000 to more than 140 organisations to recognise the efforts of staff who volunteered over 23,000 hours of their own time.

For further information contact:
Deanna Mooney on 024 7618 3678