Five new defibrillators installed at sheltered housing communal rooms in South Cambridgeshire

Defibrillators have been installed in five communal rooms at sheltered housing schemes across South Cambridgeshire.

The automated external defibrillators, which can help save the lives of someone having a cardiac arrest, are available in an emergency by anyone in the community.

Following match-funding from the Department of Health and Social Care’s £1million Community Defibrillator Scheme, they have been installed at four of South Cambridgeshire District Council’s sheltered scheme communal rooms at:

- Thistle Green, Swavesey;
- Wilford Furlong, Willingham;
- Cox’s Close, Stapleford; and
- Avenells Way, Gamlingay.

Waterbeach Parish Council has funded another outside Denson Close Communal Room in Waterbeach.

Cllr Bill Handley, the district council’s lead cabinet member for communities, said: “Defibrillators are on standby 24/7 ready to save lives. Every second counts in cardiac emergency situations and these machines can help ordinary individuals become lifesavers in extraordinary circumstances. We are delighted to have been able to help secure funding to provide these machines in the community which are an important community asset.”

The installation was carried out by the council’s electrical contractor ECS as part of their social value contribution.

Paul, McLaughlin, ECS contract manager, said: “To be able to support South Cambridgeshire District Council with the installation of life-saving defibrillators is really important to ECS and we are very happy to provide this support and contribution to the local communities.”

Defibrillator locations can be identified across the UK at https://www.defibfinder.uk/