Issue 14 - November 2011 (PDF - Chipping Norton Times

Bourton on the Water and Stow on the Wold now have
Public Access Defibrillators available to save lives in the
case of Sudden Cardiac Arrest.
The first in Bourton was installed earlier in the summer at
the petrol station and car park in Station Road, and the
second is outside Hackling’s transport on the Bourton
Industrial estate, and close to the Bloor Homes site. These
two join the defibrillator at the Cotswold school and the
recent installation at Lower Slaughter and in the square in
Stow on the Wold.
Above: outside Hacklings in
Bourton Industrial Estate
Below: Outside Stow Pharmacy
Placed conveniently
in a high visibility
yellow cabinet, the
defibrillator in
Bourton has been
sponsored by
Hacklings for the
benefit of the village,
and the defibrillator
in Stow, situated on
the wall of the
Pharmacy in the
square, has been
supported by the
Town Council.
Up to 200,000 people a year in the UK suffer from a
sudden cardiac attack making it one of the UK’s largest
killers. The faster a victim gets medical help, the better
the chances of survival. The availability of a defibrillator
machine greatly increases the chances of surviving a
cardiac arrest. With CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)
alone, the survival rate is around five per cent, but
defibrillation and CPR increases the chance of survival to
up to 50 per cent.
More Cotswold villages become
Heartbeat Communities!
From Martin Fagin, Community Heartbeat Trust
In an emergency always dial 999
“We are delighted to be working with the local
communities in Bourton and Stow” said Martin Fagan,
National Secretary of the charity the Community
Heartbeat Trust, responsible for the acquisition of the
recent defibrillator installations in the area. “ The recent
growth of the village around the industrial area in
Bourton, and the high numbers of visitors in Stow, make
these locations obvious choices for these life saving
medical equipment.”
The defibrillators are available for anyone to use with or
without training, by dialing 999 ambulance first.
Whilst training in the use of the defibrillators is not
required, training and awareness sessions are being held
in Bourton, Lower Slaughter and Stow in the next few
weeks.
It is hoped to have more defibrillators available in Bourton
and Stow as soon as suitable sites have been identified.
“Ideally we would like one in the centre of Bourton, for
example near the Motor Museum, and also further down
near the sports field” says Martin. “and in Stow one near
the school, and maybe up near Tesco. If anyone is
interested in helping with this project they should contact
CHT through our web site”.
For further information please contact the Community
Heartbeat Trust via the web site at
www.communityheartbeat.org.uk
There are other planned sites in Naunton, Guiting,
Rissigngton, Chedworth (3rd site), Bibry and others
coming in the next few weeks. We are very keen to get
defibrillators into Northleach, Chippy and Moreton.
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