Thursday 23rd April 2015 – 3.40pm – Claire Brown.
A church hall in a community in Solihull is a saviour for patients in cardiac arrest thanks to a new box of tricks.
A community public access defibrillator (CPAD) is a device used to help restart the heart of someone in cardiac arrest. St Peters Church Hall in Holly Lane, Balsall Common, has kindly housed a device which will not only benefit the visitors to the hall and church but also the local community.
The life-saving device was funded by West Midlands Ambulance Service and is situated in a secure yellow box on the front of the building which is easily accessible in an emergency. The box itself was purchased by Balsall Common Lions and is the third device to be installed in the village with a fourth due to be unveiled soon.
Christine Hornsby, St Peters Church Hall Manager, said “We’re more than happy to have a defibrillator, everyone is really enthusiastic about it. There are around 500 people a week in the hall, the church’s congregation is in addition to this and every morning and afternoon the car park is also used by parents on the school run. It’s a busy little corner of the community and there’s always people here so it’s a good place to put it. Everyone can see it and you can’t actually miss it as its bright yellow!”
Brian Hornsby, Balsall Common Lions Club, said: “We knew the ambitions of FastAid and the ambulance service in getting more devices in the village so when the opportunity came up to get a defibrillator at St Peters we jumped at the chance to fund the box! We’re now working with our local Fastaid CFR Jeff Way to place the fourth defib in the village!”
Andy Jeynes, the Trust’s Community Response Manager, said: “With a fourth defibrillator in the pipeline for Balsall Common, you really won’t be far from a life-saving device in this village soon thanks to the support from local businesses, Balsall Common Lions and the dedication of our Fastaid Community First Responders.
“St Peters is a busy tight knit community which is an ideal location for a defibrillator.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor: Pictured (left to right) Christine Hornsby, Brian Hornsby, CFRs Jeff Way and Alice Hawkins and Community Response Manager Andy Jeynes.
