Isolated communities across Aberdeenshire have been kitted out with lifesaving equipment thanks to a massive fundraising drive.
A scheme to provide the public access defibrillators (Pad) in Mid Deeside has proved far more popular than anticipated – with 15 of the devices now in place in villages across the area.
The project was started in Aboyne, when a device was installed at the village’s ambulance station, but volunteers soon realised there was a need for more of them in the wider Deeside area.
The initiative – which will give someone suffering a cardiac arrest more time while ambulances get to the remote scene – is being run by Mid Deeside Ltd, in partnership with Mid Deeside Community Council, Tarland and Mid Deeside Community (TMDC) First Responders and the Bellwood Area Residents Association.
Initially, the project group hoped to secure eight of the defibrillators for the Aboyne area but were overwhelmed by the support the initiative got with locals businesses, community councils and councillors.
May Hauxwell of the TMDC First Responders said: “Mid Deeside is now well equipped with Pads which makes it a much safer place for any member of our community or visitor who may suffer a sudden cardiac arrest.
“We started to raise money for the eight defibrillators and the responders thought that all these villages on the other side of the main roads were even more isolated than Aboyne.
“We realised every village needed one and we couldn’t leave one out. It all really happened quite quickly. Everyone was so enthusiastic.”
Now thanks to the fundraising efforts of the groups and individuals involved, Dinnet, Tarland, Logie Coldstone, Birse, Dess, Ballogie, Finzean, Lumphanan, Torphins and Kincardine O’Neil are all equipped with Pads – and have people trained to use them.
More defibrillators are also planned for both Ballater and Braemar.
The first responder group’s drive to train locals in vital CPR and defibrillator training has also attracted hundreds of people.
Mrs Hauxwell added: “We have now got hundreds of people going through our heart-start course. For some reason it just took off. It is like empowering the community.
“I’d like to give a sincere thank you to all our project groups, benefactors, individuals, groups, and businesses who have helped this project with donations, resources and their time, to its conclusion.”
Defibrillator map
A map showing the location of every defibrillator in the local area has now been issued by the groups behind the project.
Public access defibrillators (Pads) greatly increase the chance of survival following a cardiac arrest.
The life-saving machines are stored in weather-proof, unlocked boxes and are fully automated, running using an internal battery.
Once turned on the device talks the user through the steps required, including CPR and patient analysis and only delivers a shock if required – meaning there is no chance of accidental or malicious usage.
Pads can now be found at the following addresses: at the rear of Loch Kinord Hotel in Dinnet, outside the MacRobert Hall in Tarland, at Rivendell House on the North Deeside Road in Dess and the north wall of Birse’s Church Hall.
In Aboyne they can be found at the front of the community centre, at the Boat Inn, outside Strachan’s of Deeside, at the ambulance station and outside Rose Lodge Nursery.
Others are in place outside the old pub at Logie Coldstone, the garden wall of the Butterworth Gallery in Ballogie, at Torphins’ Scotmid and outside Lumphanan, Finzean and Kincardine O’Neil village halls
Free British Heart Foundation heart-start courses in CPR and in the use of a defibrillator are continuing in the area. They can be arranged by contacting TMDCFR@gmail.com