HMG supports Minutes Matter Campaign

HMG Paints, a leading UK independent paint manufacturer, is continuing its support of the Minutes Matter Campaign, alongside the British Coatings Federation (BCF) and its members. The campaign has seen HMG Paints and other paint companies donate paint to the conversion of iconic red telephone boxes into lifesaving defibrillator stations.

Community Heartbeat Trust and BT have been working together with rural communities to turn disused telephone boxes into Community Public Access Defibrillator sites or cPADs. The BCF’s paint manufacturer members have stepped in to help preserve these iconic structures in communities, by arranging the donation of free paint and undercoat for renovation. Communities who want to convert their iconic telephone boxes into Community Public Access Defibrillator sites can visit www.minutesmatter.org.uk.

"The whole world witnessed the importance of defibrillators during the Euro 2020 championship and we’re proud to support the British Coatings Federation in partnership with the Community Heartbeat Trust and BT to promote the installation of defibrillators in BT phone boxes across the UK,” commented John Falder, HMG Paints Chairman. "We were honoured to have provided paint for the first conversion in Long Wittenham and are elated that since then, 668 further kiosks have been converted.”

Through this campaign it is hoped to not only help save the lives of the 30,000 people who suffer cardiac arrest every year but to also preserve a part of the British heritage and culture, that is so well represented by the good old fashioned red telephone box.

For any community who is planning to convert their kiosk and purchase their defibrillator from the Community HeartBeat Trust, HMG Paints will provide 2.5 litres of undercoat and 2.5 litres of the iconic 539 Currant Red gloss from the BS381C range. To contact HMG Paints you can visit their website, www.hmgpaint.com or call them on 0161 205 7631.

Following a Cardiac Arrest, the chance of survival decreases by 23% per minute. It is therefore, very important medical treatment starts as soon as possible. The UK Resuscitation Council suggests a defibrillator should be available wherever medical treatment is more than five minutes away. In practical terms, this means most rural locations in the UK. There are thousands of BT phone boxes in the UK sitting idle, and by having a defibrillator installed, they could be helping save lives instead. For more information on the campaign and the support of the BCF members visit: https://www.coatings.org.uk/minutes-matter-campaign.aspx/. You can track the campaign using the hashtag, #MinutesMatter.