New defibrillator unveiled at community centre

Murray MacGregor – Thursday 28^th September 2023 – 10.55am.

A piece of equipment that can literally save lives has been unveiled at a community centre in Coventry.

A community automated external defibrillator (AED) has been placed at Harp Place in Coventry, a centre for a number of local Coventry charities and community organisations

The defibrillator has been funded by Harp Place itself and has been provided by a local charity “Heartbeat UK”, Heartbeat UK Coventry, who aim to provide defibrillators for local community groups.

An Automated External Defibrillator (AED) or defibrillator is a lifesaving device that can help save the life of someone experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest.

Paramedic Alpesh Mistry, who volunteers at Harp Place, said: “As a paramedic I see just how important an AED can be in saving lives. The centre is in the heart of the Coventry community so this is an ideal location for such a device. We also have lots of elderly people use the centre so it is ideally placed should it be needed.

“Clearly we hope it never will be used, but having one here means that should such an event happen, it will give the patient the best possible chance of survival. You do not need any training to use an AED – the device has simple instructions.”

“If someone has a cardiac arrest, it is vital that you start call 999, start CPR and get someone to find a defibrillator. The 999 call assessor will let you know if there is one nearby. They will also tell you what to do if you don’t already know. Starting CPR and getting a defib quickly will give the patient the best possible chance of survival.

The unveiling took place on Friday 22nd September with two local MPs Zarah Sultana (Coventry South) and Taiwo Owatemi (Coventry North West) on hand to assist. In addition, Coventry CFRs (community first responders) brought one of their vehicles along.

Harp Place is situated at 2 Sandy Lane, Coventry, CV1 4DX, telephone number 02476 555 222.