PROTECTION against cardiac arrest came in the form of a lifesaving defibrillator installed at a community centre this week.

A Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) has been installed at Savernake Street Social Hall, Eastcott.

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

It was donated to the Eastcott Community Organisation, along with a CPR training kit, by the British Heart Foundation as part of their Nation of Lifesavers Community Package.

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. A defibrillator can cost up to £1,500.

A defibrillator awareness session will be held at Savernake Street Social Hall on April 23 at 2pm.

Steve Russell, trustee of Eastcott Community Organisation said:“We are delighted to have received this lifesaving package.

“The defibrillator, placed outside the social hall will mean that local people have the best chance of survival should they suffer a cardiac arrest. We’re keen to get as many people as possible trained in CPR too and the session on April 23 will be a good first step.”

Trustees at the community centre first realised the merits of a defibrillator when they underwent first aid training last year. They applied for a defibrillator late last year with the donation given the green light in January

Fellow trustee Caroline Davies-Khan said she was delighted at the donation,

She said: “I think it is an absolutely brilliant idea for the community. It’s something that anyone can use, it’s straightforward, but can save lives. I think it’s brilliant that we have one and we are very thankful to the British Heart Foundation for donating such a vital piece of equipment to us.

“I feel it is a really good thing for the community. It’s a really positive step forward for us and we will all benefit from this and

Sara Askew, from the British Heart Foundation said:

“We are delighted that Eastcott Community Organisation have joined the British heart Foundation’s Nation of Lifesavers campaign. By making another defibrillator available in Swindon and teaching CPR locally, it could really be the difference between life and death.”

The British Heart Foundation have installed more than 14,000 defibrillators across the UK.

For information email eastcottcomunity@yahoo.co.uk