** NELSON TOWN COUNCIL INSTALLS A COMMUNITY PUBLIC ACCESS DEFIBRILLATOR**

Published: 17 December 2020

We’re pleased to announce the installation of our Community Public Access Defibrillator (CPAD) outside the Unity Well Being Centre on Vernon Street, Nelson.

CPADs do not require training and can be used by anyone to shock a person’s heart back to normal rhythm if they suffer sudden cardiac arrest. When used alongside cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), they raise the chance of survival from 9% to 50% when compared to the use of CPR alone.

Nelson Town Council Chairman, Councillor Zafar Ali said: “This has been a personal goal for me for some time having learnt of the risks cardiac arrest cases. The British Heart Foundation says that for every minute it takes for a defibrillator to reach someone and deliver a shock, their chances of survival reduce by up to 10%. I’m happy to see that we’ve installed this lifesaving piece of equipment for the community.

Councillor Faraz Ahmed. a member of the Unity Well Being Management Committee, said: “Hopefully, the defibrillator won’t ever be needed – but if the need ever does arise, residents in the neighbouring areas having access to this equipment could potentially save the life of someone who has suffered a cardiac arrest”.

The defibrillator is located on the outside wall of the building, adjacent to the Vernon Street Play Area.

Should anyone require access to it, they must call 999 to retrieve the access code from emergency services. Full instructions are provided within the cabinet, and the emergency services on the phone will also provide guidance on how to use the equipment.