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Client Story · Hospitality & Community Safety
Why Viv’s Kitchen Chose a Workplace Defibrillator for Their Community, From Personal Experience to Community Protection. Viv’s Kitchen Steps Up for Sanson
After a heart attack in the family, the team behind one of the Manawatū’s best-loved roadside cafés made sure staff, customers and locals have access to life-saving equipment, right where they need it.
A Real Community Story
A Life-Changing Moment for the Viv’s Kitchen Family
Sometimes it takes a life-changing event to show just how important emergency preparedness can be. For the team at Viv’s Kitchen in Sanson, that moment came in late August, when owner Viv’s husband, Kevan, suffered a heart attack. Thankfully, Kevan is now recovering, but the experience started an important conversation about how prepared local businesses really are when a cardiac emergency happens.
On the morning of 13 October, seven weeks to the day after Kevan’s frightening episode, Viv’s Kitchen had an Alsco Uniforms defibrillator installed at the café, giving staff, customers and the wider Sanson community access to potentially life-saving equipment should it ever be needed.
“It’s not until we went through something like we did, that we realised how much these are needed in the community.”Viv, owner of Viv’s Kitchen, announcing the defibrillator on Facebook, 13 October 2026
Every Second Counts
For every minute without CPR or defibrillation, a person’s chance of surviving a cardiac arrest falls by 10 to 15%, according to Hato Hone St John. A defibrillator on site means help can start before paramedics arrive.
Rural Help Takes Longer
In 2024/25, the median time for emergency responders to reach a cardiac arrest was 8 minutes in urban areas and 11 minutes in rural and remote communities. In a small town, a nearby AED can bridge that gap.
Built for Anyone to Use
Modern defibrillators give clear, voice-guided instructions, and they only deliver a shock if the heart rhythm needs one. You don’t need to be a medical professional to help save a life.
A Community Asset
More Than Protecting a Business
Many people still link defibrillators with hospitals, but they are fast becoming important community resources. Cafés, sports clubs, schools, workplaces and retail stores can all help create safer communities by making AEDs (automated external defibrillators) easy to reach.
For Viv’s Kitchen, the decision was about protecting everyone who walks through the door. Whether they’re locals catching up over coffee, travellers stopping on a road trip, or customers making a special detour for the café’s famous cream horns, Viv and her team have built a reputation for warm hospitality and looking after their community. Installing a defibrillator is simply another extension of that care.
“We know a lot of people’s hearts skip a beat when they enter our doors, but let’s hope and pray they don’t beat that fast that we need to put the defibrillator to work. However, it’s reassuring to know it’s there.”Viv, sharing the news with a smile in the same Facebook post
Busy Venues, Ready to Respond
Cafés and restaurants welcome a steady stream of people every day. An AED that’s visible, signposted and close to the counter means staff can act within the first critical minutes.
Solutions for hospitalityWhere Every Minute Matters More
Sanson sits at the junction of State Highways 1 and 3, so Viv’s Kitchen sees locals and travellers alike. In rural areas, where emergency help can take longer to arrive, a defibrillator nearby can make a real difference.
Find Viv’s KitchenPreparedness Everyone Can Share
Any place where people gather can become part of the chain of survival. A workplace defibrillator protects your team, your visitors and the neighbours around you.
Explore portable defibrillatorsIt’s not until we went through something like we did, that we realised how much these are needed in the community.
Viv, Viv’s Kitchen, Sanson. Read the original postManaged Defibrillator Rental
A Workplace Defibrillator, Without the Hassle
Alsco Uniforms New Zealand supplies portable defibrillators as part of its First Response service, so businesses like Viv’s Kitchen can focus on their customers, knowing the equipment is ready when it matters. At Viv’s Kitchen, a LIFEPAK CR2 defibrillator now sits in a clearly marked Alsco cabinet at the café.
- Automated external defibrillator (AED) with clear, voice-guided instructions
- Integrated CPR feedback to help rescuers give effective care
- Onsite AED training available for groups of up to 10 people
- Reliable, nationwide service from your local Alsco Uniforms team
Featured Business
Viv’s Kitchen, Sanson
Viv’s Kitchen is a family-run café in Sanson, Manawatū, best known as the home of the famous cream horn. Made from a treasured family recipe and rolled by hand on site, the cream horns have drawn locals and travellers for years, and in 2020 the café celebrated selling its 200,000th. Alongside its home-style baking and café favourites, Viv’s Kitchen is loved for its friendly service and its retro diner-style interior, complete with chequered floors and a jukebox. There’s also the Viv’s Kitchen Lickity Split Ice Cream Shoppe, and a vintage caravan that proudly carries the title “Mobile Home of the Famous Cream Horn”.
Address: 9 Dundas Road, Sanson 4817, New Zealand
Hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00am to 3:00pm. Saturday and Sunday, 8:00am to 3:00pm
Phone: 06 329 3234
Frequently Asked Questions
Defibrillators in the Workplace
Is a heart attack the same as a cardiac arrest?
No. A heart attack happens when blood flow to part of the heart is blocked. A cardiac arrest is when the heart suddenly stops pumping effectively. A heart attack can lead to a cardiac arrest, and that is when a defibrillator is used to help restore a normal heart rhythm.
What should I do if someone collapses and isn’t breathing normally?
Follow St John’s 3 Steps for Life: call 111, start CPR, and use an AED as soon as one is available. The 111 call handler can talk you through CPR and may be able to direct you to the nearest registered defibrillator.
Do you need training to use a defibrillator?
No. AEDs are designed for anyone to use, with voice-guided instructions, and they only deliver a shock if one is needed. Training still builds confidence, which is why Alsco Uniforms offers onsite AED training for groups of up to 10 people.
Are NZ workplaces required to have a defibrillator?
There is no blanket rule that every workplace must have an AED. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, businesses must provide adequate first aid equipment and facilities for their risks, and many choose to add a defibrillator as part of that plan.
How do I make sure people can find our defibrillator in an emergency?
Place it somewhere visible and clearly signposted, then register it with Hato Hone St John so 111 call handlers can direct people to it. You can also list it on AED Locations at aedlocations.co.nz.
Because Being Prepared Can Save a Life
Could a Defibrillator Make a Difference in Your Workplace?
We’re delighted that Kevan is recovering, and we thank Viv for sharing her family’s experience so openly. If her story has you thinking about your own workplace, talk to the Alsco Uniforms team about a portable defibrillator for your business.
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