A defibrillator for all!

Crompton Liberal Democrat Councillor Louie Hamblett has put forward a motion to the upcoming Shaw and Crompton Parish Council meeting to have an Automated External Defibrillator affixed to the wall of the parish council building.

Cllr Hamblett, who is also a Parish Councillor for Crompton North Ward, said: “The aim of this motion is to increase the number of defibrillators available to the residents of Shaw and Crompton. A defibrillator, or AED, is an emergency medical device which can deliver a controlled electric shock to try and get the heart beating normally again in the event of a cardiac arrest. As a congenital cardiac patient myself, who has unfortunately had to have lifesaving intervention by a defibrillator, I know that time is precious and ensuring we have as many as possible in the community is vital.”

Supporting the motion Crompton West Ward Councillor Tom Penketh said: “This isn’t just for older people who are greatly susceptible to heart attacks younger and fitter people are also at risk and we are wanting to ensure that any life saving treatments can be made available to those who need it so they get the best fighting chance before an ambulance or first aid arrives.”

Cllr Penketh added “When you call 999, the call handler will instruct the caller to begin CPR immediately – you will be told how – and to send someone else to bring a defibrillator. You will be asked for the postcode for your location and informed of the nearest publicly available defibrillator and the entry code for the defibrillator box would be given.

“However, if you are not automatically provided this information but you know where your nearest defibrillator machine is, you can ask the ambulance call handler for the code saying that it is within a short distance from your location.”

In closing Cllr Hamblett said “I hope that all members cross party support this, ensuring that this lifesaving equipment can be made available for the benefit of everyone.”