A CHARITY trust is donating £50,000 towards the installation of defibrillators in rural areas across the county.
The Four Acre Trust is offering to pay half of the £1,000 needed to install an automated external defibrillator (AED), with local communities raising the other half.
The funding should mean up to 100 extra AEDs will be available to members of the public to use in the event of someone suffering a cardiac arrest.
With 130,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests every year in England, 90 per cent of patients could be saved with early CPR and defibrillation, yet only about eight per cent will be saved as it takes too long to get help.
Chair of trustees for the Four Acre Trust, John Bothamley, said: “We generally support charities that give individuals, mainly children and young people, help in making the most of their lives.
“We are here to inspire local communities who have been thinking about getting a defibrillator, to get on and do it. It’s a straightforward process and we’ll provide half of the £1,000 funding needed.
“We hope as many communities will take up the offer and we can get an extra 100 defibrillators installed as soon as possible.”
When a community comes up with the funding, they should apply to the Hereford and Worcester Community First Responder (HWCFR) Charity who will arrange for the defib to be placed in a box on the likes of a church wall, school, shop or even pub, anywhere that it can be accessed 24 hours a day.
Email HWCFR Charity Trustee, Sue Watkins, at [email protected] for more information.
