Lifesaving defib machine could become 24-hour

A PARISH council is to look at making a defibrillator - located in a popular tourist destination - available 24 hours a day.

It comes just days after the importance of a defibrillator was highlighted when it was successfully used on a referee who collapsed during a football match.

At the monthly meeting of Kingsley Parish Council, chairman of the authority, Councillor Ken Unwin, said the parish council were currently responsible for three defibrillators, one at the Blacksmiths Arms, Kingsley Holt, one at Kingsley Village Hall and one at The Railway Pub in Froghall.

However the defibrillator at Froghall, which attracts hundreds of visitors each week to the trains, canal and picnic area, is being kept in a cellar at The Railway Pub and cannot be accessed out of opening hours.

Mr Unwin said: “There has just been an incident at Ipstones where a referee collapsed during a Sunday morning football match.

“Fortunately there was a defibrillator at the nearby Memorial Hall which people ran to collect.

“It was used and I think the man was brought back. It shows that this is such an important issue.

“The one at Froghall is only available when the pub is open, which is not satisfactory. I have seen the landlady at the pub who is considering fundraising for a cabinet which could be fitted on the outside of the premises. We should give the landlord chance for this to be reviewed as funds have been raised locally for cabinets previously.

Councillor Ivor Lucas said the defibrillator could possibly be positioned in the telephone box located on the main road.

He said: “The way forward could be to put the defibrillator in the telephone box which is located next to the bridge in Froghall.”

Councillor Martyn Hordern said he has tried to contact West Midlands Ambulance Service over the issue, but had yet to receive a reply.

Mr Unwin said that the parish council should enquire if the phone box at Froghall was available for adoption.

He said: “We will monitor the fundraising for a cabinet at the Railway pub and also enquire if the phone box on the main road was available for adoption.”

Members agreed that Councillor Unwin re-contact the pub at a later date to see if any fundraising had been started and in the mean time that the clerk make enquiries to see if the telephone box would be available for adoption by the parish council.