The first 24 hour Public Access Defibrillator in Newton Aycliffe was fitted to the outside of Woodham Village Community Centre this week. It will provide potential lifesaving help to the wider community serving the surrounding Church’s, Dentist, Shops, Post Office, Huntsman Pub, and of course the Public. This unit is the first of several new units that will help fill a gap in provision found on the Town, especially to the West and North.
The project is a great example of all parts of our community coming together to help our Emergency Services. Funding came from Great Aycliffe and Middridge Area Action Partnerships Crime and Community Safety priority, generous public support especially Woodham and Middridge, County Councillors John Clare, Mike Dixon, and Joan Gray, Great Aycliffe Town Council, The PCP, and Greenfield Community College. Local business has also contributed generously and thanks go to The Village Pharmacy, Woodham Dentists, The Huntsman Pub, Reds Chip Shop, and Lagoon Salon.
Other outdoor units will be installed in the next few weeks at The PCP Centre, Greenfield Community College, and the Bay Horse Pub Middridge.
An internal unit will be held inside the Greenfield Store, and a spare unit will be held by Woodham Community Centre for use at any public event.
The public are becoming more aware of how these defibrillators can help save lives. The “Killer Facts” are that survival rates after eight minutes with only CPR (Chest Compressions)  are less than 5%, yet with a defibrillator being used within a few minutes this could go up to 70%.
Over 100,000 people every year in the UK, die from heart attacks, young, old, fit, unfit. Every family knows of someone who has suffered a heart attack. Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue service have given us tremendous help with this project. They point out that in the vital “Chain of Survival”  Call emergency service, give CPR, use defibrillator, hand over to the professionals – that time is so important!
Anyone experiencing a potential heart attack event should telephone the emergency services giving their location (if you are  not sure and can see a lamp post give them the number). If you are near a 24 hour defibrillator unit they will direct you to it and provide a code to open the box.
As much as fitting more units is important, public awareness of the need, use, and location of units is equally important. Our volunteers will be running taster awareness events at several locations soon to help promote awareness of defibrillators and health matters, and encouraging people to join 250 free CPR and Defibrillator training places we have organised with Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service.
Every public building and school should have these units and hopefully more publicity will help spur others on.
For further Information Contact David Sutton-Lloyd 01325 316144. woodham.community@gmail.com