Life-Saving Defibrillators Installed in Hailsham

A number of Public Access Defibrillators have been installed and are now available for emergency use, 24/7, for the people of Hailsham.

Three Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) units have been fitted outside Hailsham Police Station in George Street, the NHS Surgery in Vicarage Field and Chandler’s BMW in Diplocks Way – a welcome boost as part of a campaign by three local councillors for potentially life-saving units to be available outside key buildings across the town.

The money needed for the purchase of three PAD units was received via Wealden District Council’s ‘Community Dividend’ fund, from which town and district councillors Chriss Triandafyllou and Nigel Coltman (current Town Mayor) and former Mayor Jo Bentley awarded their individual dividend money to Hailsham Town Council’s defibrillator project budget.

The Town Council agreed to support the campaign further by covering the shortfall required for the installation of the PAD units, including heated and secured cabinets.

Further money has been allocated by the Town Council for additional units to be installed in the near future outside Hailsham Library (subject to the necessary permissions) and Hailsham East Community Centre (with the support of an additional grant from Wealden District Council).

Day-to-day maintenance of the PAD units will be carried out by the Town Council.

Town and district councillor Chriss Triandafyllou said: “Many thousands of people die every year in the UK after suffering sudden cardiac arrest and national statistics prove that using a defibrillator could help save many of those lives. Hopefully the defibrillators will never be needed but it is essential to have these facilities in the town.”

“We are working to get more defibrillators installed in Hailsham soon and I would like to thank the councillors who have funded these important devices for the local community.”

In the case of a sudden cardiac arrest, on average only 10% of people survive unless they receive early Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation.

If bystanders provide CPR and use a defibrillator before Emergency Medical Services arrive, average survival rates increase to 38%.

The main target for all UK ambulance services is to reach the scene within eight minutes, in at least 75% of calls.

Town Clerk John Harrison said: “As a Town Council, we feel that the provision of PAD units will be of enormous benefit to the whole community — residents and businesses — and if even one life is saved, the investment will have been worthwhile.

“In the event of a cardiac arrest an ambulance should always be called. However, if there is someone present who has the capacity to administer CPR or use one of these defibrillators within the first few minutes while the ambulance is on its way, the survival rate of the cardiac arrest victim is made considerably higher.”