The Power to Save Lives!
The photo shows Dominique Hobbs, South West Ambulance Service, Lee Cordrey, Gloucester County Council Highways (Street Lighting), Lee Venning , Gloucester County Council (Highways) and Lion Mike Read getting set to install the defibrillator in Perrinsfield, Lechlade.
Lechlade and District Lions and our local Community First Responder team got together to co-ordinate the installation of new defibrillators in our area. Knowing what was needed, they campaigned to raise funds for new defibrillators in Lechlade, Fairford and the surrounding villages, working alongside the Town and Village councils and other charities and fund-raising organisations. Two years later, 8 new defibrillators are in place and more residents in our area can access this life saving equipment than ever before. In a notable first, the team have been able to set up defibrillators powered by the electricity from lampposts - this is amazing as it ensures they work to save lives without needing a separate power source to warm the batteries in winter months. Lechlade and Fairford is the first area in the UK to develop a 24/7 strategic plan for defibrillator access This team is the first in the South West Ambulance Service region to power defibrillators from lampposts - which were installed in October in Fairford and Lechlade.
The team are now working to raise funds and install more defibrillators on the larger residential estates in our area.
Stephen Andrews, a Community First Responder with over 10 years’ service said: “I believe this is the first time street lighting power has been used for the installation of defibrillators in Gloucestershire and is unique in the South West Ambulance area. We have raised the £24,000 funding to enable us to purchase the defibrillators and boxes thanks to generous donations from Cotswold District Council, Fairford and Lechlade Town Councils, Lechlade Heritage Trust, Friends of Fairford & Lechlade Communities (FFLC), Lechlade & District Lions, housing associations and private individuals. Special thanks go to the Friends of Lechlade and Fairford, who provide continued support for replacement pad and batteries and to the Lions who initiated this project”
‘Save a Life’ Defibrillator Campaign
Over the past two years, the Lechlade and District Lions have campaigned in collaboration with a number of other local charities, councils and organisations to ensure that more defibrillators are available right across our area. Over £25,000 has been raised or pledged to make us all safer.
The collaboration includes the Lechlade and District Lions, The Friends of Lechlade and Fairford Communities, The Lechlade on Thames Heritage and Development Trust, Stonewater Housing Association, Bromford Housing Association, Fairford Town Council . Lechlade Town Council and Cotswold District Council.
New government guidelines mean that 999 services will only direct people to use a public defibrillator if there is one within 200 metres of a heart attack victim - so it becomes VITAL that more are placed where needed to help save lives.
New defibrillators are already installed in the telephone box in Queens Field, Fairford, and outside The Bridge Vet practice in Lechlade.
Click the button below to register for a place on one of the next Free Defibrillator Training Sessions which are being held in Lechlade and Fairford
Mike Read, President of Lechlade and District Lions, and an active Community First Responder, knows at first hand that more defibrillators are needed in the area.
“I have had to use defibs several times to keep people alive until the paramedics reach us. So I set out to work with other local support groups to co-ordinate a campaign to fund what the communities need.”
Chair of the Friends of Lechlade and Fairford charity, Shelley Welsh said: -
“We were delighted to be involved so we can assist in supporting health care projects within the local community”
Christine Eatwell, Chairman of The Lechlade on Thames Heritage and Development Trust said: -
“We are delighted to contribute to this defibrillator campaign through our Community Fund. Supporting community projects such as this will make Lechlade an even safer place to live”.