Member Article

Life saving defibrillator installed in County Durham village

All sections of the community in Medomsley have come together to mark the installation of a new defibrillator in the centre of the village. Children from the local Bishop Ian Ramsey C of E Primary School, stood alongside community activists, local councilor Alan Shield and representatives of housing association Karbon Homes, to show off the village’s new piece of lifesaving equipment. The installation of the defibrillator has come about through close cooperation between the North East Ambulance Service, Councillor Shield and Karbon staff. The residents of Magdalene Court sheltered housing were consulted about the re-siting of the equipment to a secure location on the wall of their building, and that work has now been completed. Councillor Alan Shield said: “The whole community has come together to deliver this project. The primary school donated their AED, grant funding was accessed by the Medomsley Action Group, and donations were received from some local residents to purchase the defibrillator cabinet. “Training to use the defibrillator was coordinated and provided by the North East Ambulance Service & four residents have also been nominated as ‘defibrillator champions’ to ensure the defibrillator is always operational. “The location of the defibrillator was crucial and it was extremely pleasing that Karbon Homes agreed that Magdalene Court (central to the village) could be strategically provided to locate the equipment.” Mark Pears, a housing officer in the Retirement Living team at Karbon Homes, said: “It has been a real community effort to identify where the defibrillator could be installed, to make sure everybody was in agreement on how it would work, and that it was installed correctly. Thanks to all our partners for making this possible.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Graeme King .