Claire Brown – Friday 29th November 2024 – 9.00am.
A Community First Responder, who volunteers her spare time to help save lives in her local community, has installed the 10th defibrillator in Uttoxeter.
Mary Dorrington, Uttoxeter Community First Responder, has volunteered for West Midland Ambulance Service for three years and recently installed a publicly accessible defibrillator in Bramshall Road Park. The device, which is in a secure yellow box, can be accessed by anyone when they call 999 for an ambulance if someone nearby is in cardiac arrest.
The defibrillator, approved by East Staffordshire Borough Council, was fundraised by Mary through charity raffles and with support from Uttoxeter Lions Club, Uttoxeter Knights and other local charities and businesses in the town which she’s formed close relationships with over the years.
Mary said: “This new defibrillator marks the 10th one that I’ve fundraised for, purchased and then installed in the town which is great for the community of Uttoxeter. The box also has a Bleed Control Kit inside too. There’s another one in the pipeline in the coming weeks too! I’m proud to say that Uttoxeter is one of the best covered towns for defibrillators in Staffordshire.
As well as fundraising for life-saving devices, Mary visits schools regularly in the town to teach CPR to children in year 3 and 4. Talking about why she volunteers, Mary, said: “The reason I volunteer, push to install defibrillators and train CPR is because I love helping people. There are a lot more people these days having cardiac arrests, not just older people, but younger people too. The more defibrillators that are available to the public and the more people that are trained in CPR, the better chances of surviving a cardiac arrest.”
The new defibrillator at Bramshall Road Park went live with The Circuit, the national defibrillator network by the British Heart Foundation, on the 22nd October and on the 24th October it was accessed during a 999 call to help a patient.
ENDS