Lindfield firm donates life-saving machine

Ian and Sue Masters with the defibrillator that was bought for the village by Masters & Sons and is now situated outside Selby's Pharmacy

The Automated External Defibrillator has been bought by funeral directors Masters and Son and mounted on the wall outside Selby’s Chemist in Lindfield High Street.

The hi-tech machine knowns as an AED is a portable electronic device that automatically treats potentially life threatening cardiac conditions when the heart beats either chaotically or too fast, which can both lead to a cardiac arrest. The conditions are corrected through defibrillation, or the application of electrical therapy, which returns the heart’s normal rhythm.

The AED is designed to be simple to use and has audio and visual instructions. But Masters and Son has also sponsored training courses by the Sussex Heart Charity. The firm’s full time staff, including owners Ian and Sue Masters, are among a total of 21 people in the village now trained.

Sue Masters said: “We were very pleased by the response not only from people who work in businesses in the village but also by other members of the public who were keen to do the course.”

AED training courses are held at the King Edward Hall in the evening when people are taught to recognise the symptoms of heart failure, give chest compressions and use the AED.

Lindfield Parish Council chairman Will Blunden was among the first to attend a course and the council is now sponsoring further training courses.

Sue added: “We would like everyone to know where the defibrillator is sited as it is possible for a person without training to use the machine as users are guided through the various steps by a recorded message. We would also like people to know that further Emergency Life Support and Automated Defibrillator Training Courses are being planned.”

Anyone interested should contact Sue Masters on 01444 482107 or by email at [email protected].

Pictured with Ian and Sue Masters are Will Blunden, parish clerk Christine Irwin, Nicola Whatford from Glyn Thomas & Son Butchers, Sue Rickett from Tufnells, and Tracey Osgerby and Craig Radmall from Masters & Son. Selby’s Chemist staff are also trained including Amrita Gujral and Shane Duffy.