Wednesday 11th December 2013 – 4.55pm – Chris Kowalik in conjunction with Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service
A vital piece of lifesaving equipment will be available in Kingsland, Herefordshire, for members of the public to use in the event of someone suffering a cardiac arrest.
Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service, in partnership with West Midlands Ambulance Service and funded entirely by Kingsland Parish Council, have been working together to have the public access defibrillator sited outside Markhams Garage in Kingsland.
A defibrillator is a device that can restart the heart of someone who suffers a cardiac arrest.
Dean Baker, North Herefordshire Commander for Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service said: “This shows the benefit of partnership working, as the village of Kingsland and surrounding area now has this vital piece of lifesaving equipment, which can be used by any member of the public and is available 24 hours a day.”
In the New Year, Kingsland firefighters will receive “trainer training” from West Midlands Ambulance Service. They will then run public training sessions for people living in the village at dates and times to be arranged.
Hereford & Worcester Fire and Rescue Service and West Midlands Ambulance Service are also trying to secure Public Access Defibrillators at Eardisley, Kington and Leominster with the assistance of the local Parish or Town Councils – in some cases these will be attached to the outside of the local fire stations.
Noel Orbell, Community Response Manager, West Midlands Ambulance Service said: “We are all working together to improve the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest in outlying rural villages. When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, their chance of survival in the first two minutes is 80%. The survival rate drops with every minute, so the more people we can have trained within the local community – the better.”
Rodney Smallwood, Chairman of Kingsland Parish Council said “The parish council is pleased to be able to provide the first public access defibrillator in north Herefordshire through the purchase of this invaluable lifesaving equipment. The defibrillator will enable local people to look after each other, and is an example of how communities can pull together in times of austerity. Many thanks are due to Markhams Garage, where two of the retained firefighters are directors, for hosting the public access defibrillator in Kingsland.”
Pic left to right: Rodney Smallwood (Chairman of Kingsland Parish Council), Noel Orbell (West Midlands Ambulance Service Community Response Manager), Julian Gore (Hereford & Worcester Fire & Rescue Service Watch Commander), Simon Powney (H&W F&RS Crew Commander and Director of Markhams Garage), Tavey Cameron-Swan (H&W F&RS Firefighter and Director of Markhams Garage).
Ends
Note to Editors: A cardiac arrest is not a “heart attack”.
Defibrillator training sessions will be published locally in Kingsland