Graham Stuart, Member of Parliament for Beverley and Holderness has launched a ‘How To’ guide for communities looking to get a Defibrillator.
Last month the MP went on a cycle ride around the constituency to find out which communities had a Public Access Defibrillator, where the machines were located and, if there were none, where one could be installed.
Commenting on the ride, Graham said, “I met lots of people along the way who were really enthusiastic about getting a defibrillator installed in their community but didn’t really know how to get one so I’ve put together a short guide on how to start the process.
“It’s really important that defibrillators are quick and easy to access and everyone knows where they are; if somebody suffers a cardiac arrest the machine needs to be with the patient within four minutes to give them the best chance of survival. In order to achieve this there needs to be a machine in each village, especially in rural locations.”
Graham has also asked The Community Heartbeat Trust that are working with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service on the installation of Community Public Access Defibrillators, to give a recommendation on the best make and model to purchase for community use.
Martin Fagan, National Secretary of The Community Heartbeat Trust said, “We’re delighted to support Graham Stuart in this very valuable project; it’s important for communities to undertake this type of project correctly and addressing all liabilities and needs. Graham is particularly keen for his communities to get the best and we have committed to support him on this project. There are no shortcuts to saving a life!”
The ‘How to get your own Public Access Defibrillator’ guide is available to download from the campaigns page on Graham’s website or by calling his office on 01482 679 687 to request a copy of the guide.
