A new public access defibrillator has been installed at Cradley Community & Welfare Association. The AED has been registered with the local ambulance service and is available to the public 24/7.
Susan Insull from the centre said “Thanks to Surinder and Dave, Abigail and Chloe Hill and the community of Cradley, we raised above the amount to purchase our defibrillator unit, the remainder will go towards funding community first aid courses which is a much needed community asset and life skill. Being a much used community hub, with a wide age/ability range of users we felt it vital to have this equipment, also being in close proximity to 2 schools, a park and shops, the shorter the response time that can be made in the event of cardiac arrest the higher the success rate. We are overwhelmed by the support our community has shown in helping us raise the funds and purchase this defibrillator.”
Jamie Richards, Chief Executive of AEDdonate said “The chance of survival after Sudden Cardiac Arrest decreases minute by minute, but if someone is shocked with a defibrillator within 3 minutes their chance of survival increases by 70 %.
Having an AED within a 1/2-mile radius from wherever you are I believe is a must. We would welcome further communities to get in touch to see if we can help.” If anyone dials 999 to a patient who is in cardiac arrest in the area, the caller will be advised on the location of the defibrillator and provided with the code to open the secure cabinet in which it is housed. The ambulance call assessor has the ability to talk to any caller, defibrillator trained or not, through instructions on how to use the device as well as CPR techniques. The defibrillator itself also provides voice guidance throughout and pictorial guides are also present.
If you would like more information on how you or your business can donate a defibrillator to a Community Public Access Site visit www.aeddonate.org.uk