'Lib Dems campaigner is calling for more life-saving defibrillators to be installed across Medway'

Liberal Democrats are calling for more life-saving defibrillators to be installed across Medway, we are also suggesting that any new large development in Medway should include a publicly available defibrillator.

Alan Wells, Medway Liberal Democrat campaigner in Strood Rural said, "This would hugely improve the chances of people surviving cardiac arrests. I have contacted the council and waiting their response on installing a defibrillator in Frindsbury, as well as one in Strood town centre.

Initially, I was looking to locate a defibrillator in Frindsbury to partner that in nearby Wainscott, at the Sans Pareil. The large number of care homes in the area, as well as residents would benefit from an installation. Care staff I have spoken to in the area, are strongly in favour of this idea. No-one should die for the lack of a defibrillator.

However, this lack is a Medway-wide concern. Around Medway, some defibrillators are restricted, or not available out of hours. There appears to be some areas of Medway that has limited or no coverage. I'm calling on the council to survey defibrillator access in Medway and to develop a network, for use by any member of the public 24/7, which could prove vital in the event of cardiac arrest.

There are around 60,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests that occur every year in the UK. According to the British Heart Foundation, less than 1 in 10 people survive a sudden cardiac arrest. The survival rate for someone suffering a sudden cardiac arrest decreases by 10% every minute they are waiting for life-saving equipment to be used on them.

We need to make searching for the nearest defibrillator in Medway easier for all members of our community to help them save lives."

Medway deserves better.

ENDS

Notes for Editors:

Sudden Arrhythmic death syndrome is when an individual passes away unexpectedly from a cardiac arrest, with no cause being found. It is usually due to an untreated abnormal heart rhythm and according to the British Heart Foundation affects around 500 people a year in the UK. In the event of a cardiac arrest, a defibrillator uses electric shocks to try and restart the heart and restore normal rhythm. It is known that slower access to defibrillation following a cardiac arrest can reduce chances of survival.