Overhaul of Melton's community defibrillators ensures residents are always near one
A scheme to ensure most Melton Mowbray residents are close to a public life-saving defibrillator is progressing well.
Melton BID have teamed up with the Live is Life Foundation charity and Melton Borough Council, to review and build upon the resuscitation support for the town.
An extensive survey was made on the placement of defibrillators around Melton before proposals were drawn up to ensure sufficient defibrillators and other emergency equipment are in place.
New devices have been recently also been placed on Kings Road and in the recently-opened St John’s Catholic church community hall, the latter with the kind assistance of WelMedical who sponsored pads and batteries for this device. Further work is ongoing to look at the extended town, particularly the new housing estates.
Martin Fagan, CEO of the Live is Life Foundation charity said: “We took a complete survey of the town, looking at current provision of defibrillators and whether these were accessible, rescue ready and even if out of service.
"From this we built a plan to replace some sites, add others and to establish a long-term support structure for the town.
"No one in the town centre should be more than 200 metres from emergency equipment by the time we are finished.
"We are also standardising on the equipment to make use, training and support even easier.”
He added: "Phase one and two is now complete and we begin to move to phase three, with plans for at least anther three defibrillator sites.
"A second plan is being devised for the outer areas of the town including the new estates.
“Eventually we will also have ‘emergency centres’ with trauma kits, anaphylaxis kits, public access stretchers and carry chairs to make Melton truly ‘Resus Ready’.”
Melton BID manager, James Colclough, commented: “This is a great project and shows what can be done if those knowledgeable can work together for the benefit of the town.”
Melton Lions are teaming up with the BID on a further project to place trauma kits in town shops and pubs and to train staff in their use.
The Lions are also producing public maps of the locations of emergency equipment in Melton.