The Wight Strollers have donated their sixth Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) and it is thanks to such generosity that more lives on the Isle of Wight can be saved.
The new PAD is now situated on the outside wall of The Island Car Centre in Rookley. The business has agreed to host and provide power to the external unit, which has already been called upon to assist in a medical emergency. Within days of being installed at the corner of Pritchetts Way and Main Road, the device was collected to assist with an incident at nearby Rookley Country Park.
A defibrillator is a portable device that can be used by a member of a public in the event of cardiac arrest. A cardiac arrest is when a casualty becomes unconscious and is not breathing normally because the heart has stopped pumping oxygenated blood around the body. A defibrillator – or ‘defib’ – will analyses a casualty’s heart rhythm and shock them if needed.
For every minute that passes without defibrillation and Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), chances of survival decrease by around 10%
Louise Walker, Head of the Isle of Wight Ambulance Training & Community Response Services said:
“Once again thank you so much to the Wight Strollers for supporting our Community Defibrillator programme, your passion and drive to raise money for local causes is highly commendable and so very much appreciated. I look forward to seeing you all in the Island carnivals this year!”.
The proceeds of a Wight Strollers pantomime at Medina Theatre helped fund the group’s latest PAD donation.
What came as an unexpected gesture, the Island Car Centre has donated £100 to The Wight Strollers to add to their fundraising efforts.
