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Village life-saver
The defibrillator was installed in 2013 as a result of a donation made by Gerald Gould, a long term resident of Monks Eleigh.
The defibrillator is checked to ensure that it is ready for use on a fortnightly basis, in line with the requirements of the Community Heartbeat organisation.
The unit is powered by a battery that is dated and has a long lifespan. The pads, used when the defibrillator is deployed, have replacement dates so it is clear when they need to be changed, and the unit itself is located within a locked cabinet that is maintained at a steady 7 degrees by an internal heater.
The defibrillator has a green light to show it is ready for use. Whenever the unit is checked, an online report is submitted to Community Heartbeat and confirmation of the receipt of the checks is returned. Replacement pads are provided on request, so at all times, the defibrillator should be ready for use. Inside the cabinet are sundries that may be required when dealing with the incident: torch, towel and scissors.
Since its installation, the unit has been deployed on two occasions. It was not activated on the first occasion, but was operational on the second in April 2016.
The cabinet contatining the defibrillator is mounted on the wall of the Community Shop - facing the road, and is pictured above.
Many thanks to John Naylor, who steadfastly and thoroughly maintains and monitors this vital piece of equipment so that it is ready for use when needed.