Defibrillators

Rushden Town Council is pleased to announce that we have installed five of the six new defibrillators across the town.

The potentially life-saving defibrillators were partly funded by East Northamptonshire Council's 'Councillor Empowerment Fund,' along with member contributions towards the installation costs, and a kind donation of £100 from the Independent Wesleyan Church, Rushden.

Defibrillators are medical devices that help and support a rescue for a patient in cardiac arrest, working to restore their heart rhythm before emergency services arrive and improving the patient's survival rate.

"If a defibrillator is used within 3-5 minutes of cardiac arrest, survival rates jump from 6 per cent to 74 per cent." First Aid for Life

Five defibrillators have been installed at these locations;

• Spencer Park Pavilion
• Jubilee Park Pavilion
• Haddon Close: inside a decommissioned BT telephone kiosk• Upper Queen Street: inside a decommissioned BT telephone kiosk
• Hall Park

One defibrillator yet to be installed at;

• Portland Road, in conjunction with Alfred Sargent Shoes

We are in the process of registering the defibrillators on a national database website, which pinpoints the location of and provides directions to all registered defibrillators in the UK. www.nddb.uk

We are also looking into providing a CPR course for residents to learn emergency life-saving skills. In the meantime, please check out the Heartstart Communities Scheme, which you will find details of, on the British Heart Foundation website.

The website provides information on local CPR courses, YouTube videos on how to use a defibrillator, and how to perform CPR. Plus, information on other invaluable, life-saving skills. www.bhf.org.uk