What is a Defibrillator?
A defibrillator is a device that gives a jolt of energy to the heart. It helps get the heart beating again when someone is in cardiac arrest and their heart has stopped. You might also hear it being called a defib, a PAD (public access defibrillator) or an AED (automated external defibrillator).
West Swindon Parish Council has installed FOUR new 24-hour public access defibrillators across in the parish. The defibrillator locations and what3words addresses are:
- Delta Tennis Centre, Welton Road, Westlea ///dips.hooked.economies
- Holy Trinity Church at Shaw Village Centre, Ramleaze Drive ///seagulls.chuckling.unite
- Woodlands Edge Pub, Peatmoor ///vessel.rounds.fortified
- The Hub, Toothill Village Centre, Toothill ///doll.retail.sparks
Each defibrillator also includes a bleed treatment kit, an essential resource for emergencies.
In West Swindon there are also another 36 registered defibrillators of which 7 are accessible to the public 24 hours a day with the remainder available during business hours. You can familiarise yourself with defibrillator locations in West Swindon by visiting The Circuit which is a national defibrillator network which maps defibrillators across the UK. Simply enter SN5 into the search bar.
What to do in an Emergency
If someone is in cardiac arrest, call 999 and start CPR. When you call 999, the operator can tell you if there's a public access defibrillator nearby. If you're on your own, do not interrupt CPR to go and find a defibrillator. If it's possible, send someone else to find one.
Anyone can use a defibrillator. You do not need training. Once you turn it on, it will give clear step-by-step voice instructions.
Many defibrillators also have visual prompts and images showing how to use it.
The device checks the person’s heart rhythm and will only tell you to give them a shock if it’s needed. You cannot shock yourself or someone else accidentally.
To find out more about how to use a defibrillator in an emergency visit the British Heart Foundation website.