Defibrillators put in town's key sites

Three Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) units have been fitted outside Hailsham Police Station in George Street, the NHS Surgery in Vicarage Field and Chandler’s BMW in Diplocks Way - a welcome boost as part of a campaign by three local councillors for potentially life-saving units to be available outside key buildings across the town.

The money needed for the purchase of three PAD units was received via Wealden District Council’s ‘Community Dividend’ fund, from which town and district councillors Chriss Triandafyllou and Nigel Coltman (current Town Mayor) and former Mayor Jo Bentley awarded their individual dividend money to Hailsham Town Council’s defibrillator project budget.

The town council agreed to support the campaign further by covering the shortfall required for the installation of the PAD units, including secured cabinets.

Further money has been allocated by the town council for additional units to be installed in the near future outside Hailsham Library, subject to the necessary permissions, and Hailsham East Community Centre, with the support of an additional grant from Wealden District Council.

Town and district councillor Chriss Triandafyllou said: “Many thousands of people die every year in the UK after suffering sudden cardiac arrest and national statistics prove using a defibrillator could help save many of those lives.

“Hopefully, a defibrillator will never be needed but it is essential to have these facilities in the town.

“We are working to get more defibrillators installed in Hailsham soon and I would like to thank the councillors who have funded these important devices for the local community.”

Town Clerk John Harrison said: “As a town council, we feel the provision of PAD units will be of enormous benefit to the whole community – residents and businesses – and if even one life is saved, the investment will have been worthwhile.

“In the event of a cardiac arrest an ambulance should always be called. However, if there is someone present who has the capacity to use one of these defibrillators, the survival rate of the victim is made considerably higher.”

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