Every MKM branch has a defibrillator. It’s something we hope we’ll never need to use, but as colleagues in Stafford and Barrow-in-Furness have shown, having one available can make a real difference.

At MKM, we’re proud of the people who make our branches what they are. Every day, our teams look after customers, support each other and get stuck into life in their local communities.
But every now and then, they find themselves having to step up in a completely different way.

To mark Restart a Heart Day on 16 October, we wanted to share the experiences of colleagues at two of our branches who have used defibrillators to help customers during medical emergencies.

And, most importantly, to recognise the people who stepped forward to help.

Quick thinking at MKM Stafford

In December 2025, customer Mark Davies collapsed while visiting our Stafford branch.

The team quickly recognised that he needed urgent medical assistance and used the branch defibrillator while waiting for emergency services to arrive.

Thanks to the quick actions of the team, fellow customer Dean Tallent, the paramedics and Air Ambulance crew were able to save Mark’s life. We’re delighted to say Mark is doing well, and we’re incredibly grateful to everyone who played a part that day.

 

 

Ryan Hitchin, Branch Director at MKM Stafford, said:

“It was a situation none of us expected to find ourselves in, but everyone pulled together and did what they could to help Mark.

“I’m really proud of how the team responded, and most importantly, we’re just so pleased that Mark is still here with us.”

How our Barrow-in-Furness team stepped up

Earlier this year, colleagues at our Barrow-in-Furness branch also found themselves responding to a medical emergency when a customer collapsed.

Branch Manager Lynzi Armstrong and Yard Supervisor Joanne Raynsford used the branch defibrillator for the first time, following its instructions to help restart the customer’s heart.

They continued until the emergency services took over, and he was taken to hospital for treatment.  Sadly, the customer passed away later that day. But the team’s actions meant his family were able to spend precious time with him in hospital.

His family later visited the branch to thank Lynzi and Joanne personally for giving them that time together. The team were also praised by the emergency services and the cardiac consultant involved in his care.

Paul Curwen, Branch Director at MKM Barrow-in-Furness, said:

“Everyone was very upset to hear that the customer had passed away, But his family coming into the branch to thank Lynzi and Joanne meant a great deal to the team.

“I’m incredibly proud of how they responded. They’d never used a defibrillator in an emergency before, but they followed the instructions and did everything they could.”

 

 

Having the confidence to act

Stories like these are exactly why having a defibrillator available matters.  Since 2020, we’ve been installing defibrillators across our branch network, and today every MKM branch has one.

All our devices are registered on The Circuit, the UK’s national defibrillator network, which helps emergency services locate them when they’re needed. We also offer defibrillator training to colleagues across our branches, helping people feel more confident about what to do in an emergency.

But one of the most reassuring things we’ve heard from colleagues who have actually used the equipment is how straightforward the instructions are to follow.

Simon Raywood, Head of Health and Safety at MKM and Chair of the Builders Merchants Federation’s Health and Safety Working Group, explained:

“Nobody wants to find themselves in a situation where they need to use a defibrillator, and it’s completely understandable that people might feel nervous about using one.

“But they’re designed to be used by anyone. They give you clear, step-by-step instructions and will only advise a shock when it’s needed.

“We offer training across MKM and always encourage colleagues to take advantage of it, but you don’t need to be medically trained to use a defibrillator.

“Our teams have shown just how important it is to have that equipment available and to be prepared to act. We’re incredibly proud of them.”

A thank you to our teams

Restart a Heart Day is an opportunity to remind people of the importance of CPR and defibrillators, but for us, it’s also a chance to recognise some brilliant colleagues.

To Ryan and the team at Stafford, Lynzi and Joanne at Barrow-in-Furness, and everyone else who has stepped forward to help during an emergency, thank you.

We’re proud to have defibrillators in every MKM branch, but it’s our people who make the difference.

And if sharing their experiences encourages another business to install a defibrillator, or gives someone the confidence to use one, that’s something positive to take from these stories.

Want to learn more? The British Heart Foundation offers free information and training on CPR and how to use a defibrillator. Visit www.bhf.org.uk