Upchurch Parish Council is currently seeking a new site to reinstall the second village defibrillator previously located at The Three Sisters Public House in Otterham Quay Lane.
PLEASE NOTE: Until then, there is currently only 1 village defibrillator in use.
Located at: Snaffles Equestrian & Country Store, 2 - 4 The Street, Upchurch ME9 7AJ
A defibrillator is a portable device that checks the heart rhythm and can send an electric shock to the heart to try to restore a normal rhythm. Defibrillators are used to treat sudden cardiac arrest and may save the person's life.
Kent Ambulance response times for critical emergencies can often take longer than the targeted 8 minutes, especially in rural areas. For someone undergoing a heart attack, using an Automatic External Defibrillator within the 8 minute time frame is crucial for their life chances. After 12 minutes, it is often too late.
Medway Ambulance Station and Sittingbourne Ambulance Station are both, according to RAC Route Planner, 16 minutes away (assuming no traffic issues). Clearly, using the defibrillator is important as the emergency services would not be able to attend to someone having a heart attack in time.
In the event of an emergency, you must dial 999. The emergency operator will give you the access code to open the defibrillator cabinet. An ambulance will also be dispatched.
REMEMBER, no training is actually required to use the device. It comes with its own voice instructions which are given as soon as the device is removed from its case and is opened. It will not deliver a shock unless one is needed.
If you notice a problem with the defibrillator or if you have had to use it, please let the Parish Council know as soon as possible so that it can be made ready for future use.
Thanks to the generosity of many village organisations, individuals and through their own fundraising, Upchurch WI raised funds to purchase 2 village defibrillators as part of their Centenary commemorations in 2015.
Upchurch Parish Council would like to thank Bernard and Gail at The Three Sisters on behalf of the village for previously allowing the installation of the second village defibrillator at the pub in 2016.
Upchurch Parish Council
