A Somerset councillor is helping to save lives by getting important first aid equipment installed in five pubs in his rural division.
David Fothergill, Somerset County Councillor for North Curry, has bought five Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) from St John Ambulance using funding which has been awarded to every Somerset county councilor for public health initiatives.
The Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) - machines that can shock the heart to restart it after a cardiac arrest – will be located at village pubs to ensure they are readily available in case of emergency.
Councillor Fothergill has also arranged for the charity to carry out free first aid awareness sessions for villagers and training for staff in pubs in how to use the defibrillators.
Whilst using a defibrillator without training would not cause someone harm, these sessions will give people valuable practice and confidence to use them in case of emergency.
In the UK, one person suffers a cardiac arrest every two minutes and as many as one in three will die before they reach hospital. Survival rates increase by more than 50% if a defibrillator is used within the first four minutes.
The AEDs will be installed at the King Alfred in Burrowbridge, the Royal Oak in Stoke St Gregory, the Bird in Hand in North Curry, the Greyhound in Staple Fitzpaine and the Bell Inn in Creech St Michael.
Free one hour first aid awareness sessions will be held at Neroche Village Hall on October 3 from 7.15pm to 8.15pm; Williams Hall, Stoke St Gregory, on October 5 from 7.15pm to 8.15pm; North Curry Village Hall on October 13 from 2.45pm to 3.45pm; Coronation Hall, Burrowbridge, on November 6 from 7pm to 8pm and Creech St Michael Village Hall on October 12 from 5pm to 8pm when St John Ambulance trainers will demonstrate how to use them. They are open everyone living in the area.
Councillor Fothergill explained why he came up with the scheme. ‘My division is very rural so it can take time for emergency services to reach people. Having an AED available that is accessible could be the difference between a life and death in the case of a cardiac arrest.
‘The funding has paid for the AEDs and the training as well as an awareness campaign to let people know that these machines are there to help. I would urge as many people as possible to come to the free sessions to find out how to use these life saving machines.’
John Cavanagh, South West Regional Director for St John Ambulance’s Commercial Training Division, said: ‘We welcome how seriously Councillor Fothergill has taken first aid. In a rural area in particular, access to an AED can make a real difference.
‘Sadly, up to 140,000* people die in situations where first aid could have given them a chance to live, yet fewer than one in five people know even basic first aid. Thanks to Councillor Fothergill and our expert trainers, people in the North Curry division won’t have to be helpless, and they might save the life of a member of their family, a friend or a neighbour.’