Vernham Dean became the latest Hampshire village to join the Public Access Defibrillator Initiative, as they unveiled their newly installed Automatic External Defibrillator (AED).
Contributions from the Parish, Borough and County councils have enabled the village to purchase and install the AED with help and support from South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) who also assisted with sourcing funding.
SCAS was able to provide assistance to interested businesses and organisations by directing them to charities, grants and community fundraising schemes to help with purchasing.
Parish councillor Michael Knight, who has been instrumental in driving forward the initiative in Vernham Dean said “We have ten Parish Responders who have received training in CPR and using the new defibrillator, and being a small parish of around 250 properties most people know at least two of the Responders.”
“Having a defibrillator so close is really beneficial to the whole community, and I look forward to seeing ours appear on the new AED app soon“.
SCAS Hampshire Community Defibrillator Officer Pete Hackett, has not only been advising the group, but has also helped deliver AED awareness training to the volunteer group of Parish Responders.
SCAS Community Responder Manager Nic Morecroft has also been heavily involved in the scheme and Nic commented “When you visit a remote place like Vernham Dean, and meet the residents of the village, the impact of installing an AED becomes immediately clear.”
“The AED really will provide a lifeline for the villagers, and it might just save someone’s life. It’s fantastic that the villagers have got so passionately involved, and made this happen for the benefit of their entire community.”