The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Phone boxes answer call for defibrillators
Hopes to install lifesaving devices in repurposed booths
An ambitious plan to install lifesaving defibrillators in redundant telephone boxes will be launched in Angus today.
Members of Kirriemuir Community Council have set up a crowdfunder campaign in the hope of ringing up £8,000 for four strategically placed defibrillators in and around the town.
After months of negotiations, they purchased telephone boxes in Maryton, Northmuir and Southmuir which will house the equipment, and hope to replace the machine in Reform Street.
Community councillor Heather Kelly explained fundraising will be tiered – with the first £2,000 going to the telephone box in Maryton.
She said: “Our campaign aims to raise funds to help us place defibrillators in the community that will be available 24 hours a day.
“These units will be placed in repurposed phone boxes.
“When someone has a cardiac arrest following a heart attack, their life can be saved if their heart is restarted quickly using an automated external defibrillator (AED).
“The time before using this equipment can be a matter of life and death, and in a rural community, it is vitally important to have accessible equipment available for immediate use. The machine gives clear spoken instructions to the user and will not operate unless it detects that an electric shock is required.
“When someone has a cardiac arrest, every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces their chances of survival by 7-10%.”
The community council bought the phones boxes in the main street in Maryton, beside the Newton in Southmuir and beside the Woody in Northmuir two years ago.
Mrs Kelly continued: “We always intended to use them as housing for defibrillators, or even a library.
“We were given a list of phone boxes that could be bought by community groups and paid £1 for each box.
“Our long-term goal is £8,000 but we want to do it in stages – first Maryton, then Southmuir, Northmuir and finally upgrade the box and defibrillator in the town centre.
“We would also like to take information about what the defibrillators do into local schools to encourage pupils to do something to help raise money, feel they have contributed and have some ownership of these lifesaving machines.”
Kirriemuir Community Council have approached the Heartbeat group, which helped with a similar project at Westmuir on the outskirts of the town, and hope to have a talk at their meeting this month to help members understand and plan for the installations.
As well as the crowdfunder a number of community fundraisers are being planned in the town.
To donate visit crowdfunder.co.uk/ kirrie-defib?tk=155b60b0271e3111b976 52e75c7f343fc01543d4
In a rural community, it is vitally important to have accessible equipment available for immediate use. HEATHER KELLY