RESIDENTS who got together to ensure their neighbours can access defibrillators in an emergency have installed a second lifesaving machine.
The Oakdale Community Lifesavers raised more than £4,000 in the space of six weeks to buy two defibrillators for Oakdale Road in Bromley Heath.
They have been mounted on the garden walls of houses near each of the road’s two junctions with Oakdale Close.
Defibrillators are used to restart the heart of someone in cardiac arrest, before an ambulance arrives.
They are kept in locked cabinets which can be accessed by calling 999. Emergency operators have a code which can be used to unlock the cabinet, and can talk the user through the process of attaching pads to the patient’s chest and administering a shock where necessary.
The defibrillators are part of The Circuit, a national database of defibrillators used by 999 call handlers to direct people to their nearest machine.
The second of the two defibrillators was installed at the end of September and to celebrate, residents gathered with representatives from Downend Round Table, who made a donation towards the Oakdale Community Lifesavers’ fundraising. The donation came from money raised by the Round Table’s annual firework display for good causes in the local community.
Fiona Konteh, from the group, said: “These are the nearest defibs for Bromley Heath Avenue, Oakdale Court, Avenue, Walk and parts of Heath Road, as well as Badminton Road.
“They are available 24/7 but, as always, people should contact 999 in an emergency to be advised of the closest operational defib and access code.
“This completes the defib fundraising that we undertook and we have some surplus funds in the Enthuse account with Great Western Air Ambulance, which will be used to purchase two spare sets of defib pads.
“Any remaining funds will be donated to the work of the Great Western Air Ambulance service.
“We would like to thank everyone who donated and supported this project.”
Fiona’s work to bring Oakdale Road residents together, including the fundraising for the defibrillators, led to her being given a community champion award by Downend & Bromley Heath Parish Council earlier this year.
For more information on the project or to enquire about defibrillator training, call 07500 898502.