![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/man-recycles-his-old-vacuum-cleaner-into-defibrillator-after-major-cardiac-health-scare/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/1_new-exclusive-social-Recovered-copy-3.jpg&description=Ian Downs has backed a campaign by Recycle Your Electricals which is designed to ultimately save lives thanks to the creation of new healthcare equipment - like defibrillators A radio host who was in the top ten per cent of risk of a cardiac incident and keeps a defibrillator at home has recycled an old vacuum cleaner into a life-saving device. Ian Downs was initially unaware his 20-year-old vacuum, gathering dust in his garage, could be transformed into a defibrillator. He made the decision following his own sobering health scare, which saw a doctor tell him 10 years ago he was at risk of a cardiac arrest. But Ian, who is a freelance radio and TV host, overcame these concerns, lost weight and ensured his own safety by installing a defibrillator at his home in Portishead, Somerset. Speaking exclusively to the Mirror, the 46-year-old man said he now wants to raise awareness of the importance of equipment like defibrillators, which save lives by giving anyone in cardiac arrest high energy electric shocks. His enthusiasm parallels the Mirror's successful campaign to get all defibs fitted in all state secondary schools in England. Ian, whose dad had heart disease, said: "I wasn't the most healthy man in the world. I am type-2 diabetic, asthmatic and my doctor told me at one point I was in the top ten per cent at risk of a cardiac incident. "I was ten or 12 kilos heavier than I am now. I have changed my diet and do a lot of exercise now, and had the defibrillator installed at home because it really struck a chord with me." This experience led to Ian - also a stadium announcer at sports grounds including Ashton Gate for Bristol City - to discover broken and disused electricals, including old items from his radio roles, can be recycled into healthcare equipment. There are more than ten million unused or broken vacuum cleaners gathering dust around the country which could help save lives. This year is the 125th anniversary of the first patent for the first-ever electric vac){kind=link}
Ian Downs has backed a campaign by Recycle Your Electricals which is designed to ultimately save lives thanks to the creation of new healthcare equipment – like defibrillators
A radio host who was in the top ten per cent of risk of a cardiac incident and keeps a defibrillator at home has recycled an old vacuum cleaner into a life-saving device.
Ian Downs was initially unaware his 20-year-old vacuum, gathering dust in his garage, could be transformed into a defibrillator.
He made the decision following his own sobering health scare, which saw a doctor tell him 10 years ago he was at risk of a cardiac arrest.
But Ian, who is a freelance radio and TV host, overcame these concerns, lost weight and ensured his own safety by installing a defibrillator at his home in Portishead, Somerset.