Life-saving gear unveiled
LIFE-SAVING kit has been donated to a community in Glasgow.
Lord Provost Eva Bolander unveiled a defibrillator for the people of Anderston after a group’s generous donation.
A POTENTIALLY life-saving emergency device has been installed at Anderston Kelvingrove Parish Church with the help of charity St John Scotland.
The defibrillator was unveiled by Glasgow Lord Provost Eva Bolander, who is also the local councillor for the Anderston Ward.
The device can be used if someone suffers a cardiac arrest, where the heart suddenly stops beating, and works by delivering an electric shock to kick start it back into normal rhythm.
Every week, around 70 people in Scotland have a cardiac arrest. For every minute that someone goes without treatment, their chances of survival reduce by 10 per cent, so performing CPR and using a defibrillator within the first few minutes of collapse can make the difference between life and death.
The defibrillator been installed on the outside wall of the church and is available to be used 24/7.
Unveiling the device, the Lord Provost said: “The installation of this life-saving equipment will be a comfort to everyone in the area. Cardiac arrest can affect people of all ages and can strike at any time.
“Having immediate access to this easy to use defibrillator in a public place like Anderston Kelvingrove Parish Church will only benefit residents and visitors.”
The device was funded by the Weavers’ Society of Anderston, a historical society which dates back to the 18th century but now supports various charitable causes in the area. Funding for the device was topped up by charity St John Scotland, which is working to increase access to defibrillators in local communities across the country.
Margaret McAdam, chair of St John Scotland’s group of volunteers in Glasgow, said: “Defibrillators that you find in public places are not like that – they have been designed so that any member of the public can use them, without any training needed.”
John Balding, Preses (chair) of the Weavers’ Society of Anderston, said: “The Society is pleased to be able to provide such practical support to the local community.”
The Evening Times is currently running Scotland’s Got Heart campaign, which aims to ensure every secondary pupil in the country leaves a life-saver.
Glasgow was the first local authority in the UK to commit to a comprehensive training programme.