A RED telephone kiosk has just become the home of a talking defibrillator which will save lives and can be used by the public with little or no training.
The point of using the kiosk is to make the location of the defibrillator as easy to find as possible when required urgently.
Locked in a secure high visibility, yellow waterproof and vandal-proof heated cabinet, it can be accessed by members of the public in the event of an emergency and, once the lid is opened, the machine's 'voice' gives step-by-step instructions as to how to treat a patient.
COLLAPSING
When an emergency occurs and someone suffers suspected cardiac arrest, either through an accident or collapsing, a member of the public ringing '999' is given the code to access the defibrillator in the former BT kiosk next to the Pint and Post Public House.
The machine talks the user through how to administer treatment with step-by-step spoken instructions, for example, telling the user how to apply the pads to the casualty's chest.
The machine analyses the victim to determine if they are suffering from a heart attack and, if required, delivers a powerful, but controlled electric shock to restore normal heartbeat.
The project is a joint one between the Community Heartbeat Trust, the South West Ambulance Service, BT, and St Giles and Northcott Parish Council — the latter having acquired the out-of-service kiosk from BT for a nominal £1 purchase price as part of the Adopt-a-Kiosk Scheme.
A large group of villagers gathered to see the defibrillator handed over officially to the village — although it will be available for use by people throughout the district.
The machine was handed over by Chris Fagan, from the Community Heartbeat Trust, Robert Horton, community engagement officer from the South West Ambulance Trust, and BT's Mark Johnson (manager of street Payphones), to Cllr Ken Hamlyn, the chairman of the parish council.
See this week's 'Post' for a full report and group photo.
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