A DEFIBRILLATOR went missing outside the former Oscar Mayer site in Chard, leading to the location being decommissioned.
Cllr Dave Bulmer, who is the guardian of the publicly accessible defibrillators in Chard, which include 21 in total, first spotted that the defibrillator was missing near the start of February.
Part of his job is checking that they are all operational every month and sending in a report. According to him, this is a ‘considerable piece of work which is required’.
As a result of this incident, the Chard defibrillator group has announced that the location will now be decommissioned.
He said: “I first noticed that the cabinet was open and the defibrillator was missing. As soon as I noticed it was missing, I stopped and checked the site to see if it was somewhere around the site. When I was unable to locate the defibrillator, I immediately reported it missing and unavailable.
“As a group, we were hoping that it would be returned; unfortunately, this hasn’t happened, hence why the defibrillator group has posted that it has now been decommissioned.”
He added: “We did have 21 defibrillators in and around Chard, which is good for a town the size of Chard, because one has gone missing and not been returned, we are now down to 20 defibrillators.
“Quite simply, they are vital life-saving devices that may be needed by other members of the community at any time.”
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Dave also reported it to The Circuit, the national defibrillator network, which will let him know if the defibrillator was deployed.
Dave added: “With me being the Guardian, I needed to do this because if a specific defibrillator needed to be deployed at a location, the emergency services would be able inform any potential users as to where the nearest publicly accessible defibrillator is located. This will save valuable time for those who need it."
According to Stuart Cumming, Chard Town Crier, this is the second time the defibrillator has gone missing.
Stuart said on Facebook: “The defibrillator at the old Oscar Mayer site has once again gone missing. This is the second time it has been taken and not returned.
“As a result of this repeated issue, the location will now be decommissioned, and the device will no longer be available for public use.
“It is deeply disappointing that a life-saving piece of equipment has been taken from the community.”
When Chard Town Council were approached for comment, David Bell, chief executive and town clerk, said: “Dave Bulmer and his colleagues at Chard Defibrillator Group provide a wonderful, unsung service to the community.
“Like many things in life, it is not until these are needed by an individual (it also impacts the family) that the true worth in human life is realised.
“I can add little to the comprehensive views expressed by Dave Bulmer, except that it is a sad reflection on the community that this equipment has disappeared.”
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