 The defibrillators are stored in locked cabinets at key locations |
Life-saving cardiac machines which can be used by untrained people have been installed at key locations in rural villages in the Chew Valley, Somerset. The portable defibrillators, stored in locked cabinets, could help to save the lives of people in cardiac arrest.
Anyone dialling 999 when a patient collapses will be directed to the nearest unit and given an access code.
They will be instructed in how to use the defibrillators which administer a shock to restore the heart's rhythm.
The machines, each costing �1,000, are being installed at busy locations such as the High Street.
They were paid for by local estate agent, Clive Setter.
He said: "They are commonplace in other parts of the world.
"People have them by their telephone or coffee machine in the United States.
"They are now useable by anybody, even without training."
Mr Setter said the portable defibrillators could help to save lives while patients waited for an ambulance, which had further to travel because of the rural location.
Machines currently installed at:
Chew MagnaStanton DrewUbleyWest Harptree Machines to be installed by 16 November at:
Bishop SuttonChew StokeCompton MartinEast HarptreeHinton Blewett,Winsford Further machines planned at:
BlagdonNorton MalrewardRegilChew Valley rugby club
One-Minute World News 
News services
E-mail this to a friend 
Printable version 
People have them by their telephone or coffee machine in the States
Bookmark with:
What are these?