2017 – 2018 The Defibrillator Project
In 2017 we began a project to equip the village with a defibrillator (an Automated External Defibrillator, AED). This is an important piece of equipment for the prompt treatment of someone suffering a heart attack (cardiac arrest). It is especially helpful when the ambulance may take some time to arrive, as is possible in a rural village such as St James. The immediate use of an available AED can be a major factor in enabling people to survive in such a situation. We planned to site our defibrillator at the Village Hall as a central point with easy access.
To launch the project our First Responders in Rumburgh came to talk to us about their role, how to help and what to do if someone collapses. They demonstrated how to use the AED and how to do chest compressions (CPR). Many villagers attended and were able to try the equipment and practice life preserving skills.
The project gained enthusiastic support, and our fund-raising campaign was very successful, raising about £2,000 for the AED equipment, training, installation and maintenance. The defibrillator was installed in April 2018. We would like to thank all those who donated and attended fund-raising events, and all the organisations below for their kind financial contributions and support.
