Volunteers raise funds to install 18 defibrillators around Chard

Clive Adams, who still works for the South West Ambulance Service as a driving training officer, has been raising funds with two other volunteers to install the life-saving machines.

Mr Adams said he realised the lack of defibrillators in the Chard area when he used to work as an emergency care assistant.

The defibrillator at Oak Lodge (Image: Contributed)

His group then proceeded to raise funds and install them around Chard and the surrounding villages.

The group secured the defibrillators on a four-year deal that also includes training and after that length of time, they will need to be renewed.

The group is looking to install two more defibrillators, one near Chard Reservoir, at the Chard Angling Club, and one at Turnpike Caravan Park, Mr Adams said, and also put together a map to let residents know where the machines are.

A map showing where the defibrillators are located (Image: Contributed)

Mr Adams said: “We have 18 defibrillators, 12 have been updated and six will be renewed in the summer.

“We are working on installing two more bringing the total up to 20.

“I work for the ambulance service. I am a former emergency care assistant, and I realised the lack of defibrillators in Chard and how long it took to take patients and that’s how it started.

A defibrillator was also installed at the Haymaker Inn (Image: Contributed)

“The 18 defibrillators are accessible 24/7 and if people ring 999 they will be directed to the nearest one.

“For every minute that passes once in cardiac arrest, a person loses a further 10 per cent chance of survival “With the defibrillators available the survival rates goes up to 70 per cent.”

Each defibrillator costs 1800 plus VAT and Mr Adams recently swam 46 miles to raise funds for one of the defibrillators and raised £1300.

A message on the South West Ambulance Service website said: “For every minute that passes once in cardiac arrest, a person loses a further 10 per cent chance of survival, and with this dramatic loss in chance of survival, there is a need of a defibrillator every four-five-minute walk.

For more information, or to sponsor a defibrillator, email Mr Adams, Clivedadams@aol.com 

This defibrillator was sponsored by Lentells Accountants (Image: Contributed)

Here is a list of sponsors Mr Adams and his group of volunteers would like to thank.

• Tawstock Sponsored By PMBL Ltd
• Oak Lodge sponsored by Harbour Health Care
• The Happy Return sponsored by The Happy Return and Customers
• Avishayes Sponsored by Chard Hospital League of Friends
• Oscar Mare Sponsored by Total Plumbing & The Graphics Factory 
• Lentells Accountants sponsored by Lentells Accountants
• St Gildas sponsored by Abri
• Alpine Grove sponsored by Alpine Grove and residents
• Millfield Cafe sponsored by National Grid, C&D South West and Millfield Cafe
• Chard Rugby Club, in memory of Andy Kileen a former Chard responder and sponsored by Chard Rugby Club
• Crowshute Centre sponsored by the Crowshute Centre
• Chard Baptist Church sponsored by Chard Baptist Church
• The Cotley Inn Sponsored by the community
• The Haymaker in Sponsored by the community
• Chaffcombe Sponsored by the community
• Conservative Club Sponsored by the regulars
• Redstart School donated in memory of Jim Lunn