Two rural areas identified as ‘in urgent need’ of lifesaving defibrillators

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) found that rural West Tyrone has an average retrieval time of 19 minutes and 20 seconds – one of the longest in the UK – and the rural Cusher area has an average retrieval time of nine minutes and 20 seconds.

The charity has encouraged group leaders in these two areas to come forward and apply for free defibrillators to try and reduce the risk of people in their communities dying from cardiac arrest.

The scheme is open to eligible groups in communities across Northern Ireland and BHF has said areas with the greatest need will be prioritised.

There are around 1,400 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) each year in Northern Ireland, according to the BHF.

Less than one in 10 people survive but early CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chance of survival, according to the charity.

BHF’s community defibrillator programme has helped fund 186 defibrillators across Northern Ireland over the past 12 years, with the lifesaving devices being placed in every county.

It says that for every minute without defibrillation and CPR, survival chances decrease by up to 10%.

Keady Michael Dwyers GAA club was one of 70 organisations in Northern Ireland that received a defibrillator as part of the BHF scheme last year.

Chairman Patrick Og Nugent said it provides “assurance”.

“We were delighted to receive a defibrillator last year under the BHF Community Defibrillator Scheme,” he said.

“The club premises plays a vital part in the day-to-day life of the local community covering all ages.

“Therefore when the opportunity became available to the club to obtain the defibrillator under the scheme we very quickly availed of it.

“While it is hopeful that we never have to use the machine, the assurance of it being so close at hand is a big relief to all within the club.”

Fearghal McKinney, head of BHF NI said: “When someone has a cardiac arrest, every second counts, and quick access to a defibrillator gives someone the best possible chance of survival before emergency help arrives.

“We’ve made progress here in Northern Ireland but there are still some areas without any defibrillators at all, and these communities need it most.

“That’s why we’re thrilled to relaunch our community defibrillator funding programme – to bring more defibrillators into the communities that need them most and hopefully save more lives from cardiac arrest.”

Successful applicants will receive a defibrillator and cabinet, and installation will be arranged where required.

Future replacement parts will be free of charge when they expire or are used in an emergency for up to 10 years.

To check eligibility and for more information, log on to bhf.org.uk/fundeddefib