Safe zones in our towns like in USA

Defibfinder, the non-profit organisation leading the campaign, wants there to be ‘safe zones’ in Leamington, Warwick, Kenilworth, Whitnash and other towns where people are not more than 500 metres away from a Public Access Defibrillator (PAD).

Seattle, in the US, is one city which already has such zones.

Adrian Lewis, the Leamington businessman who founded Defibfinder, said: “After a cardiac arrest time is critical and the window of opportunity to restart the heart diminishes at a dramatic rate of ten per cent per minute, therefore, convenient close access to a PAD is so important.

“As the location of existing defibrillator sites continues areas such as south Leamington and south Kenilworth have been shown to be lacking PADs.”

Mr Lewis’s god-daughter Ria Hickerton died of sudden adult death syndrome aged 16.

She was a pupil at Myton School, which has recently been earmarked by the charity SADS to receive a defibrillator.

Mr Lewis said: “Anne Jolley the founder of Sudden Arrhythmic Death Syndrome (SADS) recently expressed her support for The Heart of England Defibrillator Campaign and we are delighted that Myton has been earmarked to receive a new defibrillator to be donated to the school by the charity.

“This is a major boost for the campaign and makes Myton a safer place for pupils, teachers and visitors.”

Leamington town councillor Roger Copping went before the council this week to seek support for a proposal to have a defibrillator installed outside the town hall.

Leamington Spa Round Table has already covered the cost of buying the device. Modern defibrillators provide step-by-step instructions making them easy to use.

For more about the campaign and how to buy a device call 778504 or visit www.defibfinder.org