Defibs for Life in Nenagh
Local group seeks to add more life-saving devices to town
The launch will take place this week of a new Nenagh group with a very good cause.
Defibs for Life is seeking to add at least six more public access defibrillators around the town. The group is made up of friends and family members that decided to get a campaign going after someone close to them was diagnosed with a heart condition.
They got in touch with local man John Sherlock of the Order of Malta, who carries out routine maintenance of Nenagh's existing defibrillators, and has previously called for greater public awareness of the location of these potentially life-saving devices.
AEDs (automated external defibrillator), or ‘defibs’, are lightweight, portable devices that deliver a high-energy electric shock through the chest to the heart of a person in cardiac arrest. The shock can potentially stop an irregular heart beat (arrhythmia) and allow a normal rhythm to resume following sudden cardiac arrest.
Tom Boland of Defibs for Life pointed out that most people know someone who has suffered cardiac arrest. The provision of defibs at regular and accessible locations is a proven way to increase the chances of survival in such cases.
Defibs for Life has carried out at survey of Nenagh and found that while there are five public access AEDs around the town, a need exists for at least six more to be added at strategic points.
“The town isn't that well covered,” Mr Boland said. “If you look at any of the international best practice, in an urban area, you're supposed to be within 200m of a public access one, the reason being that if you have to run 200m, you'll have to run 200m back as well.
“We walked the town and saw where the gaps were. For example the end of Kenyon St; there are none down there.”
PUBLIC ACCESS
Mr Boland pointed out that there are several more defibs around Nenagh that are not as readily accessible to the public. For example, many schools and business premises have defibs installed but they are not available when the premises is closed.
The Defibs for Life group is hoping that local business owners that already have AEDs inside would consider positioning the device outside their premises. Defibs for Life will provide the boxes, which are LED-lit and have a thermostat to regulate temperature (as the defib may not work if the temperature becomes very cold).
For those that keep their defib inside the premises, the group is working on the use of identifiable signage that could be displayed inside the windows, so that people might familiarise themselves with these locations.
The group is also trying to raise funds to buy defibs. It will ask either the local authority or business owners if these can be installed at designated sites around the town.
Mr Boland stressed that the defib boxes would have to remain unlocked and he said the group would be seeking to place them them in areas monitored by CCTV in order to deter theft or vandalism.
Moreover, Defibs for Life aims to organise training in CPR and defibrillator use. This will be done in conjunction with the Order of Malta and the Red Cross in order to try and provide a greater understanding of first response in Nenagh.
And, once they have Nenagh covered, Defibs for Life would like to extend this campaign to the surrounding towns and villages, some of which are already well-served with public access defibrillators, while others have none.
Mr Boland said other towns have seen similar campaigns meet with
success, as people can see the benefit of knowing where their nearest AED is, and how to use it. He is aware of digital apps with information about defib locations but said these are often not updated to show where new defibs are located, and may even show devices that are no longer available.
Defibs for Life has already been talking to local business owners and sports clubs, and has received some very generous commitments of funding.
LAUNCH NIGHT
The group will hold its formal launch in the Abbey Court Hotel on Thursday, April 13, at 8pm, to which all are welcome. A number of fundraising events are planned, including a table quiz run by the Figgertys Golf Society in Figgertys pub on Friday, April 21 (8.30pm).
There will be a street collection the following day (Saturday, April 22), while DJ Vinny Savage will be playing music at the Hibernian Inn on the following Saturday, April 29 (9pm).
An online idonate webpage has also been set up for people to give money, and it can be found here. The group has also provided bank details for donations - IBAN: IE19AIBK9352202973021.