Lifesaving defibrillators installed in five South Cambridgeshire villages

Lifesaving equipment has been installed in sheltered housing communal rooms across South Cambridgeshire thanks to the District Council securing funding.

South Cambridgeshire District Councils Sheltered Housing team are responsible for managing over 40 schemes of homes for older residents in villages across the district. The team were successful in securing match-funding from the Department of Health and Social Care Community Defibrillator Scheme, a £1 million fund aimed at increasing the number of Automated External Defibrillators in public places where they are most needed and help save lives.

The result was enough funds to install a defibrillator outside four of the District Council’s Sheltered Scheme Communal Rooms at:

• Thistle Green Communal Room, Swavesey
• Wilford Furlong Communal Room, Willingham
• Cox’s Close Communal Room, Stapleford
• Avenells Way Communal Room, Gamlingay

In addition, Waterbeach Parish Council funded a fifth defibrillator which has been installed outside Denson Close Communal Room in Waterbeach.

Anyone in the community can access these units in an emergency.

Cllr Bill Handley, Lead Cabinet Member for Communities for South Cambridgeshire District Council, said: “Defibrillators are on standby 24/7 ready to save lives. Every second counts in cardiac emergency situations and these machines can help ordinary individuals become lifesavers in extraordinary circumstances. We are delighted to have been able to help secure funding to provide these machines in the community which are an important community asset.”

The installation was carried out by the Council’s electrical contractor ECS as part of their social value contribution.

Paul, McLaughlin, ECS Contract Manager, said: “To be able to support South Cambridgeshire District Council with the installation of life saving defibrillators, is really important to ECS and we are very happy to provide this support and contribution to the local communities.”

Defibrillator locations can be identified across the UK by following this link