Defibrillator thieves put lives in peril

THE theft of the defibrillator recently from Bridgend Railway Station is the height of stupidity.

Communities all over Wales are raising money for this life saving equipment but here we have idiots thinking it’s a good idea to steal it.

Do they not understand that it could be their mother, their father or their gran whose life has been put in peril by their actions?

This particular defibrillator was recently used to save a life. If they stole it thinking they could make a quick buck, they’re going to be disappointed. Its value is in saving lives and it’s worth nothing second hand.

I hope whoever stole it does the right thing and returns it to the station. But, in the meantime, the charity Welsh Hearts has offered to pay for a replacement.

There is cross-party support at the Assembly for my legislative proposal for more defibrillators and CPR-trained people in publicly accessible places and buildings.

I took part in the debate at the Senedd recently into proposals by the Bridgend Coalition of Disabled People to introduce a disability accessibility “scores on the doors” system, similar to that for food hygiene, with the Welsh Health Secretary.

It would mean that disabled people can get information about things like wheelchair accessibility, hearing loops for the deaf and other facilities inside premises.

It might also encourage businesses to install defibrillators and also train staff in things like dementia and autism awareness.

If you would like to sign BCDP’s petition to the Assembly asking for this system to be introduced you can find it on www. assembly.wales/en/ gethome/e-petitions/ Pages/petitiondetail. aspx?petition ID=1273