Ambulance charity appeals to upgrade life-saving defibrillators

Residents are being called upon to help raise £400,000 to replace and upgrade the defibrillators used by Community First Responders.

The South Western Ambulance Charity is aiming to replace 288 defibrillators carried by volunteers across the region, including those in Melksham.

Community First Responders are volunteers who are trained to provide immediate assistance within their communities and often reach patients before ambulance services arrive.

They carry an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), commonly known as a defibrillator, which delivers an electric shock to help restore a normal heart rhythm during cardiac arrest.

Zoe Larter, Head of Charity for South Western Ambulance Charity, said, “When someone suffers a cardiac arrest, every second really does count. Our Community First Responders are trained volunteers who give their time to help people during some of the most critical moments of their lives.

“Upgrading their defibrillators will give our volunteers access to equipment that works alongside the technology used by our ambulance crews, helping to make patient handovers quicker and providing our clinical teams with more information to support decision making.

“We’re asking the public to support our £400,000 appeal so we can upgrade this vital equipment and give our volunteers the best tools they need to help save lives in their local communities.”

Local fundraising activities could include marathons, pub quizzes, bake sales or raffles.

For support with fundraising ideas contact Fundraising Manager, Louise Walsh at charity@swast.nhs.uk.

To donate to the appeal, visit  https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/save-a-heart

Pictured: South Western Ambulance members holding a defibrillator