Labour councillors are creating a network of life-saving defibrillators across a County Durham community.
County Councillors, Kevin Shaw and Leanne Kennedy are pioneering a new scheme in their Dawdon Ward, that provides an integrated network of the emergency equipment.
The initiative provides enhanced emergency access and response, with the installation of 13 new defibrillators, strategically placed across Dawdon, with another four to be confirmed in the near future.
Cllr Kevin Shaw said:
“We have worked quietly in the background for two years with local schools, housing providers, businesses and community hubs to co-ordinate a system that ensures nobody is more than a couple of vital minutes away from lifesaving equipment.
“The strategic placing has been essential, and we have been delighted with way everyone has embraced this and with the support of police, fire and ambulance services; and a big thank you to the Rotary NE One Life Initiative and Rotarians Tom Sharples and Phil Hopps and Ian Moran from East Durham AAP who helped enormously with the delivery of the project.”
Having installed the first defibrillator at Seaham Marina in 2018, and with an awareness that the ambulance service faces huge pressures within the NHS, it is becoming commonplace that anyone suffering cardiac arrest may wait well over average attendance times for an ambulance or paramedic to attend and provide critical care.
Cllr Leanne Kennedy said:
“Rapid access to defibrillators could be the difference between life and death, so we’re delighted to be able to deliver this vital rollout across Dawdon.
“To enhance this initiative, we are also intending to organise defibrillator awareness sessions at Dawdon Community Centre, for anyone who wants to attend.”
The initiative, funded through the councillors’ Neighbourhood Budgets, will be launched at Dawdon Community Centre on Wednesday November 30, at 5pm.
The first 13 Defibrillators are located at:
- Dawdon Green Drive Football Pavilion
- Dawdon Green Drive Cricket Club
- Dawdon Youth and Community Centre*
- Seaham Fire-station*
- Parkside Community Centre*
- Jubilee House *
- Magdalene Court
- Ropery Walk School
- East Durham Artists Network Church St *
- Seaham Marina*
- St Mary Magdalene Church Hall
- St Mary Magdalene Infant and Junior School
*indicates already in place
The Dawdon Councillors also wish to give a special thanks to a resident and former pupil of St Mary Magdalen School, Claudia Collins, who raised money for the purchase of a defibrillator.