Appeal for volunteers to ‘adopt’ new lifesaving defibrillators

Residents are being asked by Three Rivers District Council to give up five minutes a month to regularly check the equipment is in working order and to report back any problems.

Defibrillators are used - alongside resuscitation or CPR - to give the best chance of survival during a cardiac arrest. They give an electric charge or current to the heart to try and restore a normal heartbeat.

Cllr Stephen Giles-Medhurst OBE, Leader of Three Rivers District Council, said: “We are looking for members of the local community to essentially adopt their local defibrillator and just check it for a few minutes every month to ensure it is working, and to report if it is not. These machines really do save lives and so it is vital that they are always in top condition and working order so that they are there in an emergency situation.

“This simple piece of equipment is easy to use, but it could make the difference between life and death.”

Justin Honey-Jones, Chair of Hearts for Herts, said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with Three Rivers District Council to make lifesaving defibrillators and bleed control kit's available 24/7 in our communities. Every second counts in a cardiac arrest. By working together, we can make our communities safer.”

The council is working with charity Hearts for Herts to fund and install the new equipment and bleed kits, which are equipment that the public and emergency services can use to help control severe bleeding. The charity provides training in lifesaving skills and champions the provision of defibrillators across Hertfordshire.

The council is the only local authority in Hertfordshire that has funded £13,000 to install at least 10 defibs across the district. The council is prioritising areas where nothing is currently available 24/7.

The confirmed areas are:

· Eastbury Recreational Ground, Batchworth Lane, Northwood, HA6 3HU

· Ainsworth Farm Cattery, Bucks Hill, Kings Langley WD4 9AP.

· Prime Steak and Grill, Redhall Lane, Chandlers Cross, WD3 4LU

· West Hyde Young People’s Centre, Old Uxbridge Road, WD3 9XL

· Otley Way Family Centre, Otley Way, South Oxhey, WD19 7TB

· Little Liz, Old House Lane, Kings Langley, WD4 8RS

The council will be installing an additional four defibrillators in Mill End, Carpenders Park, Chorleywood and Rickmansworth.

Free training sessions will be held to teach interested members of the local community how to use the defibrillator in an emergency and will be advertised in the coming weeks.

Please visit the council website for more information on volunteering.