Calls for new Cotswolds housing estates to have defibrillators
We could see the life-saving equipment installed in new housing estates
Life saving equipment could soon be installed in new housing estates in the Cotswolds after Council bosses passed a motion to ensure developments include defibs.
Nationally, around 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests happen every year, where medical emergency services attempt to resuscitate the patient.
Civic chiefs in the Cotswolds want to see the access to defibrillators improved as their use can double the chances of survival.
Cotswold District Council recently passed a motion to look at ensuring new housing and industrial developments include defibs.
Councillor Tom Stowe who put forward the motion, said automated external defibrillators (AED) are used to treat a sudden cardiac arrest.
He came up with the idea for the motion due to a lack of defibs in two new housing estates in Mickleton where the community is having trouble retrospectively installing them.
“The developers have completed the developments, sold the properties and new residents are in their new homes but the village is now left with the problem of installing additional AEDs,” he told a council meeting this month.
“The siting of the AED needs to be accessible without delay in a prominent position with clear signage to direct people to them.
“Another huge problem with retrospectively siting an AED is a requirement for a power supply. This can be particularly costly once a development has been completed.”
Councillor Stephen Andrews , who is a community first responder with the ambulance service, seconded the motion.
Speaking after the meeting, he said defibs are extremely important for the Cotswolds
He said: “If someone has literally just collapsed, and we have had that in Fairford, where someone was in a queue in the market square and they collapsed.
“Because of the immediate response that was provided., the fact a defib was available meant they survived and they are still walking around.
The council’s forward planning team will investigate its options to amend the regulations for developments of more than six homes to require defibrillators in the new Cotswold Local Plan.