Hoylake Parade: Defibrillators on site

(Left to right: Vaughan Williams, Rob Hussey, North West Ambulance, Jane Murch, Red Cross).

The Parade now has two defibrillators on site and is the closest available equipment for those living in Hoylake and Meols.

The equipment can be used by the local community in the event of an emergency.

The defibrillators were donated to the centre by the North West Ambulance service who recognised the lack of life saving equipment in the local area.

Twenty seven members of staff and volunteers at The Parade were kindly trained on how to use the equipment by the Red Cross.

Vaughan Williams, the chairman of Hoylake Parade Community Centre, said: “We have large numbers of people passing through the centre on a daily basis, including people attending fitness classes and those with special needs.

“Having the defibrillators on site is a wonderful resource and we’re extremely grateful for the support from North West Ambulance and the Red Cross.”

Over recent years, The Parade has become the hub of the local community and during 2011 saw a footfall of 120,000.

Defibrillators, also known as automated external defibrillators (AEDs), issue an electric shock to the heart in order to restart it after a cardiac arrest.

Research has shown that applying a controlled shock within five minutes of a collapse provides the best possible chances for survival.