Plans to register West Lothian Council’s 20 public defibrillators to a national database have been hailed as ‘brilliant news’.
Council Executive approved plans to register the council’s public life-saving defibrillators with the British Heart Foundation (BHF) national database at www.defibfinder.uk.
The website is widely used, including by partners such as Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Scottish Ambulance Service, to help members of the public find their nearest defibrillators in an emergency.
As well as that, a further three community centre management committees are actively looking to get defibrillators installed to increase coverage across the county.
Speaking to the Courier, Ally Fleming of the Paul Lynas Memorial Group, said: “It’s absolutely brilliant news that the council will be registering their defibrillators to the database.
“On top of that, to be looking at purchasing a further three is also great to hear. The more defibrillators out there, that are on the database, the better.
“It really could be something that ends up saving someone’s life.”
He added: “People need to know where the nearest defibrillator is whenever they’re in a situation where one is needed. It’s absolutely crucial.”
Paul passed away in 2017 aged just 37 from cardiac arrest and the memorial group set up in his honour has raised over £70,000 in the last five years.
They also recently installed defibrillators in Eliburn and Bathgate.
The council’s Interim Head of Housing, Building and Customer Service Julie Whitelaw said: “Quick access to a defibrillator can save someone’s life in an emergency, which is why it’s important to be able to find your closest one as soon as possible.
“Adding our defibrillators to the British Heart Foundation’s widely-used database at www.defibfinder.uk will make sure that anyone who needs them will be able to locate them without delay.”
To use any of the defibrillators on the BHF list in an emergency, dial 999 and the operator can give the code to access that specific defibrillator.
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