LIFE saving equipment is available in four new locations throughout Mid Devon thanks to the district council.

The authority has recently acquired four defibrillators, which have now been registered by the South West Ambulance Service’s accredited scheme for use in the community.

The defibrillators will be located at the offices in Phoenix House, Tiverton, and at the three council leisure centres – Exe Valley Leisure Centre, Tiverton, Culm Valley Sports Centre, Cullompton, and Lords Meadow Leisure Centre, Crediton.

Chris Crook from the Ambulance Service approved the equipment for registration.

He said: “Over 3,600 people are resuscitated by ambulance staff every year in the South West because they suffer a pre-hospital cardiac arrest.

“For every minute that passes once in cardiac arrest a person loses a further 10 per cent chance of survival.

“With this dramatic loss in chance of survival, there is a need for a defibrillator within every four to five minutes’ walk.

“Without doubt a defibrillator like the ones now available at Phoenix House and the three leisure centres will improve cardiac arrest survival rates throughout the south west.”

Automatic or semi-automatic defibrillators are easy and safe to use by anyone with little or no training.

The device talks and displays what you need to do, with many devices also showing pictures.

If any other business in the community has a defibrillator at their site, or would like to have one, they should contact Chris Cook at christopher.crook@swast.nhs.uk to register it on the scheme.