Stolen defib is replaced following public concern

Stolen defib is replaced following public concern
A STOLEN defibrillator that was taken from its location in Thornton has been replaced with a new one.

The life-saving device was installed in an old telephone kiosk on The Crescent in 2020 after it was paid for by Thornton Parish Council.

The shops on The Crescent, as well as the large Aldi supermarket and Holy Family Catholic School, makes it a busy area of Thornton, so the defib was a welcome addition.

A few months ago it was taken and locals got in touch with the Parish Council to air their concerns that the defibrillator needed to be replaced.

Thankfully, a new one has now been provided by Thornton Parish Council.

Councillor Bob McGill said: “We are delighted to see the defibrillator replaced. It’s something that can be used by anyone in an emergency to help restart the heart when someone suffers a cardiac arrest.

“When the defibrillator went missing a few months ago it was a real blow to the local community and we received many messages from concerned residents about what would happen in a worst case scenario of a medical emergency without this life-saving equipment nearby.

“Many couldn’t believe it was taken and never returned. We know that local medical support is vital in those first important few minutes when early action can make a huge difference and that’s why it was so important to the Parish Council to make sure we provided a replacement as quickly as possible.

“The defibrillator is there to save lives. Every minute after cardiac arrest that the person goes without CPR and defibrillation their chance of survival reduces by 10% every minute, but by using the defibrillator, after calling 999, the chances of survival increase significantly. It’s easy to use and it talks the user through everything and is only works when it needs to. It’s reassuring to know it is there for residents and visitors alike and this secure installation should be with us for many years to come. Having said that, we hope no one ever needs to use it.”