Double defib boost at both ends of Muthill
Efforts buy life-saving equipment
Two pieces of life- saving equipment were unveiled in Muthill this week.
The village’s famous phone box, which went viral during lockdown when it was transformed into a community larder, is now having another lease of life as the home of one of the village’s defibrillators.
Muthill Gala committee, which is spearheaded by sisters Kathleen Sweeney and Maureen MacGregor, originally donated money for a village defibrillator, which was temporarily housed at Wardside House.
Meanwhile, the efforts of Kathleen Sweeney and her sewing machine have ensured there will also be a defibrillator at the other end of the village as well.
During the pandemic Kathleen has made well over 500 masks, which have been on sale at her Viewfield filling station.
The ladies are delighted that the community defibs are now easily accessible at either end of the village.
Maureen told the Herald: “It’s been four or five years since we planned the first one.
“The community council purchased the phone box and we now have the defib in a good location, which is easy to get to, so it has been worth the wait. You can’t miss it.
“The community council will be in charge of them. Hopefully we won’t need them but at least we have got them.
“We have also started a defibrillator fund to maintain them and we have had donations of £350 and £250 from the Strathearn Young Farmers, and we are hoping to do a fundraiser in a few months time.”
Kathleen thanked everyone who has bought a mask. Donations of £2 per mask were asked for and Kathleen has raised over £1200.
She admitted at the start of the pandemic she could hardly keep up with the demand.
She said: “The village is really good at pulling together for important things. Some people would put more than £2 in.
“I‘ve thoroughly enjoyed doing it and I can’t resist buying new material. People were also buying flat-packs for me to make up so I just kept using up anything I could get my hands on. Thank you to everyone who handed in material and to everyone who came in to purchase a mask - without them the defibrillator wouldn’t be here.
“Thanks also to Debbie and Alan of A&E First Aid Training.
“I’ll keep a supply of masks in stock but will be thinking of other ways to use the material now as well.”
Kathleen’s daughter Pauline has been making hair scrunchies with the offcuts of material, and these are also available at the filling station for 50p.
Sandy Black, treasurer of Muthill and Tullibardine Community Council, explained that the phone box defibrillator has special paediatric pads on it as well as the ordinary pads because it is close to the school.
He commented: “Hopefully we will be able to organise some training days on how to use the defibrillators.
“The ongoing costs of running two defibrillators are about £450 a year.
“If anyone would like to donate they can contact me on 07787144855 or email mtccnews@gmail.com.”