Newton Aycliffe Rotary Club President Denese Cartwright has urged people throughout the community to give up five minutes of their time to learn how to give others ‘the chance to live for a lifetime’.
At the official hand-over of a new defibrillator in the town’s Tesco store, she told local residents that the few minutes it took for them to learn how to use the equipment ‘could make you a hero and save a precious life’.
The machine has been sited just inside the main entrance of the store and will enable even non-medically qualified personnel to provide emergency treatment for anyone who suffers a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest.
After the Mayor, Mary Dalton, had pulled the ribbon to enable public access to the defibrillator, Denese commented: “As the population gets older and the National Health Service becomes more and more stretched, there is more need than ever for all us of us to help when emergencies arise. With the technology now available, it is easier than ever before to acquire the knowledge that could make you a hero and save a precious life.”
She added: “Every minute counts when heart problems occur. We hope you will never have to use the machine but five minutes of your time now could mean a lifetime to someone else.”
The opening ceremony was watched by representatives of the North East Ambulance Service who were on hand to demonstrate cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) techniques and to answer questions about the defibrillator, as well as Rotarians, local residents and Tesco staff including store manager Helen Maynard.
Denese thanked Tesco for their support as well as everyone who had helped to provide the defibrillator. In her message to local residents, she said: “As a club, we are always looking for ways to enrich the lives of the community, especially a community as generous as you are whenever we fund-raise for good causes both here and overseas.”
There was special praise for Rtn Jill Thompson who co-ordinated the project for the Rotary Club.
Footnote: Anyone interested in attending a free CPR and defibrillator training session should contact the customer service desk at Tesco.
Mayor Mary Dalton pulls the ribbon to give public access to the defibrillator watched by Rotarians, their supporters and members of the Tesco store staff.
(l-r) First Responder Grant Holland, Rtn Jill Thompson (who co-ordinated the appeal for the Rotary Club), First Responder Jonathan Watson, Mayor Mary Dalton and Rotary Club President Denese Cartwright, with (seated) Rtn Michael Dalton the Mayor’s consort.
