PROTECTION against cardiac arrest came in the form of a lifesaving defibrillator installed at a housing scheme for the elderly this week.

An automated external defibrillator (AED) has been installed at Dairy View independent living in Royal Wootton Bassett.

The defibrillator, installed on the outside wall of Dairy View is available for anyone in the community to use, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Defibrillators do not require training and can be used by anyone to help save a life during cardiac arrest by shocking the heart back into normal rhythm.

Housing & Care 21 which owns and runs Dairy View launched the device as part of a new life saving campaign.

The Hearts & Homes initiative is being run in collaboration with charity Hand On Heart, which campaigns to reduce the number of deaths from sudden cardiac arrest.

Kris Peach, director of extra care at Housing & Care 21, said the life-saving defibrillators were an essential tool in protecting people against sudden cardiac arrest.

“We are delighted to place this defibrillator in Wootton Bassett.

“Tens of thousands of people die every year in the UK after suffering sudden cardiac arrest and the statistics show using a defibrillator could save many of those lives.

“Wootton Bassett is one of more than 100 communities which will be protected by these lifesaving devices as part of this project, including thousands of our residents and staff and many more thousands who live in the surrounding area.”

An estimated 60,000 people die every year in the UK after suffering a sudden cardiac arrest and research has found using an AED with CPR can increase the chance of someone surviving from six percent to up to 74 per cent.

Dairy View joins Maple Court, Moredon and 120 other Housing & Care 21 properties across the UK, which have a defibrillator installed.

Victoria Burrows, Hand on Heart chief executive, said: “Sudden cardiac arrest is one of the UK’s biggest killers and every second counts, so having defibrillators in communities available for anyone to use in the event of an emergency is vital.

“The devices are so easy to use and because the one in Wootton Bassett is in an external cabinet it means the whole community will have access to it.

“We are so pleased to launch these lifesaving defibrillators as part of Hearts & Homes and Wootton Bassett is now a safer place as a result.”