The Witham Hub, as part of its ongoing project to provide defibrillators for the Town of Witham, has installed its eighth defibrillator at the Royal British Legion Hall in Newland Street, Witham. This important project is aimed at providing a total of ten of these life-saving devices at strategic locations to ensure that they are only minutes away from all of the Town’s residents.
Ross Playle, the County Councillor for Witham Northern recently raised more than £1,000 for The Witham Hub through taking part in a charity half-marathon and played a major role in making defibrillator number eight a reality. Cllr Playle said: “I am very pleased that my fund-raising run played a role in making this happen more quickly. It is very satisfying to see it installed and ready for any future emergency.”
Tina Townsend, Founder and Chair of the Witham Hub Trustees, said: “It is really pleasing to see that this project is making substantial progress and that we are nearing our target. Cllr Playle’s support has been greatly appreciated and certainly accelerated the arrival of the defibrillator at the Royal British Legion. Thanks also to them for agreeing to have the equipment on their premises. We will now be focusing on fundraising for the two defibrillators we need to complete the project.”
Kim Barker, Branch Community Support Officer of the Royal British Legion said: “We were delighted to be able to assist with this excellent project. It is so important that this equipment is readily available, where it can potentially save lives. Our branch has supported Witham for more than 100 years and our Hall is a focal point for the community. When the Hub asked us to provide a home for the defibrillator, we were honoured to be able to have it installed on our building, as part of our continued support for the Town.”
Each defibrillator cabinet costs more than £1,600 and installation, on average, costs £300. A site survey is needed for each one and armoured cabling is required as the cabinet must have an electrical supply to keep the defibrillator warm when temperatures dip below 4 degrees centigrade. It has been recognised that a defibrillator, if used promptly, can improve the chances of surviving a cardiac arrest by up to 15%, emphasising the importance of The Witham Hub’s defibrillator network.
If you would like to donate to the defibrillator campaign, please phone 01376-617998 or email The Witham Hub at: info@withamhub.co.uk
