One of the new defibrillators will be installed on Ashby High Street after a campaign by a Scunthorpe resident
More life-saving equipment is set to be installed across North Lincolnshire.
And the new automated external defibrillators (AEDs) include one which will be sited on Broadway, on Ashby High Street, after a campaign by a resident.
A total of five new defibrillators will be installed by North Lincolnshire Council, adding to more than 100 which are available at sites across the area.
The devices, fixed to the outside wall of public buildings, can be used to help resuscitate people after going into cardiac arrest and are easily accessed in an emergency.
The Broadway defibrillator will be attached to the wall outside the Cooplands branch and comes after Scunthorpe resident Susan Roe campaigned for devices to be installed in Ashby.
She made the request to the council after training as an emergency first aider and witnessing somebody go into cardiac arrest on a bus.
She said: “I completed my training course and realised I didn’t know where the nearest defibrillators were. I spoke to the council leader Rob Waltham and said there should be some in Ashby and we agreed to site two – one at Ashby Link and one on Broadway.
“Cooplands have been really good too in letting the defibrillator be fitted to their wall. It’s in just the right place, with the market now here this is the main shopping area of Ashby.
“People need to know where they are so they can use them in an emergency.”
The other new defibrillators will be installed at Kirton in Lindsey Town Hall, Scunthorpe Bridge club on Sunningdale Road in Bottesford, Holme Lane Recreation Field in Messingham and Scunthorpe Community Wellbeing Hub on Alvingham Road.
If a person goes into cardiac arrest, a member of the public can call 999 and be given a code to access their nearest defibrillator.
The devices themselves will talk the user through the resuscitation process and the emergency services will stay on the phone to provide further guidance until the arrival of an ambulance.
Mr Waltham said: “We’re proud to be able to offer this life-saving equipment in towns and villages across North Lincolnshire and we now have more than 100 up and running.
“When the worst happens, every second is vital. We want to provide these AEDs in key locations and we want people to know about them so they can be used if needs be.
“In 2017, the council committed a further £20,000 to install these devices and their potential to save lives makes them worth every penny.”
Published by Scunthorpe Telegraph 17.4.2018
https://www.scunthorpetelegraph.co.uk/news/local-news/more-life-saving-defibrillators-set-1469869
