ALRESFORD now has 10 defibrillators installed for community use, with another on its way, and it’s thanks in no small way to the Arlesford Community Cardiac Defibrillator Scheme.

Established as the direct result of an initiative suggested to the Alresford Pigs Association, which formed a committee led by member Chris Lillywhite and Dr Peter Stokes, from the Alresford Surgery, the scheme is operating in co-operation with the Community HeartBeat Trust, a national charity focused on the provision of lifesaving defibrillation services to local communities or groups, working with the local ambulance services.

During the summer, seven defibrillators have been installed around New Alresford and in the adjoining village of Old Alresford, adding to three previous installations, with an eighth new unit to be installed by the year end.

And tomorrow (Saturday) the public will have an opportunity to find out how to use them.

Encased in bright yellow boxes, the new defibrillator units are located at Sun Hill Junior School, Alresford Bowling Club, Alresford Community Centre, the Old Alresford Phone Box, Cedar Vet Surgery, Alresford Recreation Ground on The Avenue, and the Stratton Bates Recreation Ground.

An eighth unit is to be installed soon near to shops at Linnets Road.

Plus there are others, which were not part of this particular fundraising initiative, at the Alresford Surgery, the dental surgery, and the golf club.

According to spokesman Nick Denbow, writing in the Alresford Memories magazine, inside the boxes there is a simple automated external defibrillator which is a portable, lightweight, battery-powered electronic device that automatically diagnoses a patient who appears to have breathing difficulties or the symptoms of a possible heart attack.

“It looks for and analyses any life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia in a patient’s heart and is able to treat them through defibrillation – the application of electrical therapy which helps stop the arrhythmia – thereby encouraging the heart to re-establish an effective rhythm.”

Mr Denbow explained: “Heart treatment, if needed, is most effective if applied very quickly after the patient shows the symptoms, particularly within the first 10 minutes after the event, which is why multiple units are positioned around the town.

“With simple audio and visual commands, automated external defibrillators are designed to be simple to use for the layperson. This device should be taken to any unconscious or semi-unconscious casualty: if the patient is diagnosed as not needing any heart rhythm treatment, the machine will not do anything, and will not hurt the patient.”

Each defibrillator has a key-coded lock, and a serial number stamped on the outside. By dialling 999 and asking for help, the operator will provide the keycode required to open the box at the nearest defibrillator point and tell you where it is. Once open, the defibrillator will give clear instructions on its use by way of audio-visual display panel and can be used without any previous training.

It will enable those at the scene to provide immediate help to the victim before an ambulance crew arrives.

Despite ease of use, the Community HeartBeat Trust will tomorrow provide an awareness session for anyone wishing to learn more about using a defibrillator. The session takes place at Alresford Rugby Football Club, in Arlebury Park, from 10am to 12.30pm.