Perth Street Pastors have received a vital piece of equipment which they hope can help save a life.
The local volunteers were delighted to recently be presented with a mobile defibrillator from St John Scotland Perth and Kinross.
It can now be used if needed when they are out and about offering help, listening and caring in the community.
Gordon Loudon, chair of Perth Street Pastors, welcomed the kind donation and is well aware of how important it can be.
“Street pastors are on the streets to listen, help and care for anyone in any need,” he told the Perthshire Advertiser.
“As we are in mobile contact with other agencies, they can contact us and through the kind donation of this defibrillator we can help and possibly save a life.”
Rev Sandy Gunn, who is vice-chair of Street Pastors Scotland, echoed the message.
He said: “As street pastors in some 20 areas of Scotland seek to listen, help and care, people have many and varied needs.
“The very kind provision of this defibrillator will facilitate helping in one of the more obvious needs, which can happen to anyone at any time anywhere.”
Chair of the St John Scotland Perth and Kinross committee Janice Webster revealed the defib donation was made possible thanks to the generosity of an “anonymous” resident.
“We are delighted to hand over this defibrillator to street pastors in Perthshire,” Janice explained.
“St John Scotland Perth and Kinross has an on-going campaign to roll out and facilitate the installation of defibrillators throughout the area.
“On this occasion it is the result of a generous donation from an anonymous Perth resident.”
Dr Ian Morrison, St John Scotland Perth and Kinross CPR lead, highlighted the importance of the street pastors having access to a defibrillator.
He said: “Early defibrillation can improve outcome in cardiac arrests.
“Street pastors are often called to incidents in the city centre and having immediate access to a defibrillator will allow them to treat casualties quickly, and give them the best chance of survival.”
