A defibrillator has been installed outside an Aberdeen shop after a fundraising drive by a community group.
The Bridge of Don and Danestone First Responder Service has installed the equipment at the Scotmid Co-operative store, on Jesmond Drive, after money was raised by the Rotary Club of Aberdeen Balgownie.
The purchase and installation of the machine was about £2,000, while the cost of attaching the device to the mains supply and the wall were covered by Scotmid.
Barry Reid, assistant co-ordinator for the First Responder Service, said: “The Rotary club of Aberdeen Balgownie wanted to put in a public access defibrillator in the area. My co-ordinator passed it on to me to take the project forward.
“We looked at where would be the most suitable and decided on the Jesmond area.”
The defibrillator is on the store wall near the front door.
There are also defibrillators at Scotstown Medical Practice and the ambulance base in Denmore Industrial Estate
Barry said: “It was installed on June 8 but only became fully operational last week.
“Anybody in the area can use it if someone suffers from a cardiac arrest.”
Anyone near the area that phones the emergency 999 number about someone who is experiencing cardiac arrest, or a similar life-threatening situation, will be directed to the defibrillator by the ambulance service.
Staff will issue a PIN which will unlock the equipment.
Barry said: “If someone collapses you can dial 999 and it dispatches an ambulance.
“The extra minutes can make a difference.”
Tom Spencer, the president of the rotary club, said: “We are proud to provide this potentially life-saving facility to the people of Bridge of Don.”
Story Published by Evening Express 16.7.2018
Aberdeen rotary club raises cash for vital life-saving defibrillator
