A ground breaking local initiative involving local authorities and the fire and rescue service has resulted in over 100 community public access defibrillators, which helps save lives in the event of cardiac arrest, being installed across Bedfordshire.
In the latest partnership, Central Bedfordshire Council and Bedfordshire Fire and Rescue Service have teamed up with the national defibrillator charity, the Community Heartbeat Trsut, to provide and install 62 of the life saving packs in sites within the local community. The intiative has already seen 40 defibrillator units installed within the County.
In Central Bedfordshire, 34 Town and Parish Councils have already expressed an interest in receiving one of the life saving packs, which are installed in secure boxes which can be accessed 24 hours a day. Other local communities in Bedford and Luton will also benefit from the scheme.
Every year, many people in Bedfordshire suffer from cardiac arrest, and some will sadly die because they could not be treated quickly enough. Statistics show that whilst CPR can be effective, swift access to defibrillators is a significant factor in helping people survive a Cardiac Arrest.
The defibrillators will be key-locked for security, with access given by Ambulance Service Control only on receipt of a 999 call. Ambulance crews will also be despatched to the scene.
Peter Fraser, Head of Partnerships and Community Engagement for Central Bedfordshire Council said "We are very pleased to be working in partnership with BFRS and our Town and Parish Councils to help provide these lifesaving resources for our local communities."
Bedfordshire's Chief Fire Officer Paul Fuller said: "In the same way that you don't need to be a fire fighter to use a fire extinguisher, you don't need to be a paramedic to use a defibrillator. The important thing is that they help to save lives."
He added: "Whilst this intiative may seem to be outside of the usual remit of the Fire and Rescue Service, we are an organisation that is committed to doing what we can to save lives, and I believe that more lives can be saved because of this joint project to install defibrillators where they are most needed. The question is not why is the Fire and Rescue Service doing this, but why are other community organisations not doing it?"
"The project was won against commercial opposition and a rigorous tender process" Said Martin Fagan, National Secretary of the CHT. "Our strength is governance and making sure this type of project is done correctly and well, and we are delighted that Central Bedfordshire Council and BFRS have chosen to partner with us."
The latest project will initially start with siting units at 48 sites, Units include a Cardiac Science G5 defibrillator, High Visibility IP65 cabinets, and local communities will also benfit from community awareness training and governance programmes from CHT.