Call for more difibrillators in Mid Ulster

Members of Council’s environment committee were told there are currently 182 automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) across Mid Ulster, although this number may be higher as officers believe not all AEDs are registered.

During the presentation of the report, the committee was told that Council does not have a budget allocated for the roll out of AEDs and that where the devices have already been installed by Council, budget surplus from other schemes has been used.

The report notes that following the use of geographical information system analysis of the data held by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, AEDs are lacking in the following locations.

Carntogher: Gulladuff; Portglenone River Walkway and Upperlands.

Clogher: Augher; Caledon; Eglish; President Grant’s Ancestral Home.

Cookstown: Drum Manor Forest Park; Dunnamore; Kildress and Tullyhogue.

Magherafelt: Lough Fea Walk.

Moyola: Curran.

Torrent: Cappagh.

The report recommends that AED units are installed at all of Council’s civic amenity sites, unless suitable provision is already available nearby.

It also says that Council should prioritise the roll out of additional AEDs as identified and identify a potential for eligible funding if support funding is not available.

Councillor Cuthbertson welcomed the report but expressed some doubt about the idea that Dungannon has no AED gap at present.

“I think since I raised this matter in relation to Gardener’s Hall, the boxing club, which is in council property has sourced their own AED,” said Cllr Cuthbertson.

“However, the AED is inside the building. I was speaking to members of the boxing club and they would be happy to discuss with the idea of wall mounting their AED with Council.

“The club is only meeting one or two nights a week. At present the AED is really not accessible to Gardener’s Hall but if we engaged with the club and got it on an external wall it would be.”

With regards to the report’s recommendations, Cllr Cuthbertson said he was “happy enough” to propose the recommendations wanted to ensure AEDs are installed at Council owned properties as soon as possible.

An officer informed Cllr Cuthbertson they would be in touch with the boxing club.

Councillor Brian McGuigan said there were quite a number of AEDs across the area and asked if those volunteers trained up to the use the equipment were still in place.

“How do we ensure that when they are needed, the volunteers are there to go out,” asked Cllr McGuigan.

A council officer explained that the statutory process for training and organising of the volunteers is delivered by the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service.

The officer confirmed there is a co-ordinator in place but explained they have been off on long term sick leave for a number of months.

Council’s Vice Chair, Councillor Meta Graham thanked officers for an “excellent report” and said the recommendations should be progressed quickly.

“To have no AEDs in some of our more rural areas like Caledon really is quite shocking,” said Councillor Graham.

Councillor John McNamee said the gaps needed to be plugged.

“It would be good to see everywhere covered and I have no doubt there are local community groups that will come on board and help us with this,” said Cllr McNamee.

Councillor Mark Glasgow seconded the proposal and thanked the officers for their work on this detailed report.

His party colleague, Councillor Trevor Wilson said it was a good news story but reminded the meeting that the AEDs are to there to save lives not to be vandalised.

“There have been a couple in Cookstown over the past while that were wall mounted outside, at Fairhill and The Hub on the Burn Road that were smashed and thrown out,” said Cllr Wilson.

“Can I ask that when we are publicising this, we remind people that they are there to save lives.”

DUP councillor Frances Burton said she was in full agreement with Councillor Wilson and advised Council that Caledon does actually have a defibrillator.

“It is a a life saving device and this report is a good start,” said Cllr Burton.

“However, Caledon does actually have an AED it was purchased through a rural grant by the Caledon Regeneration Partnership.

“I think it would be important to try and get that added onto the list.”

SDLP councillor Sharon McAleer commended the report and said it was good to have such an update.

“We started the roll out of AEDs in villages so long ago probably now they are just a sitting fixture,” said Cllr McAleer.

Thankfully in most place they are just a sitting fixture but it is great that they are there.

“With regards to the people that can use them, there are a lot of employers and health service staff trained to use them in the community.

“The good thing is, if they are there available there will hopefully be someone around to use them.”

Adam Morton , Local Democracy Reporting Service