Steep Parish Defibrillator Appeal
According to the British Heart Foundation, there are more than 30,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year. Without immediate treatment, most cardiac arrests are fatal. Quick access to a defibrillator can save someone’s life if they have a heart attack.
A cardiac arrest can happen at any time to anyone, and for maximum benefit a defibrillator needs to be within 4 minutes brisk walking (2 minutes there and 2 back). At the moment Steep has 24/7 defibrillators at the Village Hall, Bedales and the Tennis Club. These are of little use to residents in other parts of the parish. Last year a walker died of a heart attack in the churchyard at Steep. Although a doctor provided emergency CPR, there was no defibrillator near enough to be of use.
Through the generosity of a private donor and a grants from Petersfield Round Table and our District Councillor, the Parish Council have raised funding to purchase seven defibrillators and have secured agreements for them to be placed at both Steep and Stroud churches, The Harrow, Ashford Farm and Oakhurst Farm, The Cricketers and Nine Elms, Steep Marsh. The hosts are kindly covering the annual electrical charges. Maintenance costs will be covered by the Parish Council.
We are now looking to raise a further £1000 to complete the installation of all seven.