PH runners help fund life-saving defibrillator
Club purchase defib for within Masterton Business Park
POTENTIAL life-saving equipment has been installed in a Dunfermline business park thanks to the efforts of a local athletics club.
PH Racing Club, who are based in the city, have purchased a defibrillator from St John Scotland, which has been installed within Masterton Business Park.
They wanted to make sure they had access to the unit, which is also available for other members of the public, at their regular training base, which is affectionately known as ‘The Loop’.
Committee members, Dan Monaghan and Stuart Meiklejohn, agreed to progress the idea, which also required a building to house the defibrillator as the club do not have one of their own.
A solution was found when fellow club member Paul Dunning - a director of local firm Prime Industrial and Janitorial Supplies Ltd, which as an office in the business park - liaised with neighbours, The Linden Tree Dental Lounge, to enable PH to fit a unit to their building.
Public access defibrillators are available through registered charity St John Scotland, who provide advice, training and funding to communities looking to install one.
According to the organisation, around 70 people have a cardiac arrest at home, at work or in a public place every week in Scotland.
They say that, whilst starting CPR as soon as possible will give the person the best chance of survival, being able to use a defibrillator within the first few minutes of collapse increases their chances further.
Through their community defibrillator scheme, a fundraising target of £1,000 for the equipment and external storage cabinet is set, with the charity then covering the remaining costs, offering advice and support around installation, and free CPR and defbrilliator training in the community.
After securing a unit using club funds, PH were able to rely on another club member, electrical contractor, John Cassells, to complete the necessary works for the equipment to become operational.
“The club is committed to ensuring the pads are charged and all kit is ready to be deployed, while Paul has also kindly offered to donate a first aid kit to be kept inside the cabinet,” PH said.
“Of course, it is hoped that the equipment is never needed but it should give peace of mind to all club members to know that it is available if necessary.
“The area is also used by various other running clubs, dog walkers and people on way to the various nearby offices, so the defibrillator is a useful community resource.
“It is also listed on the British Heart Foundation’s website The Circuit so it can be located by anyone in an emergency.”