FARNHAM residents may have noticed new signs displayed on the town’s Public Access Defibrillators (PADs) in recent weeks.

The signs have been designed by the British Heart Foundation (BHF) and Resuscitation Council (UK) to help ‘demystify’ the lifesaving devices.

Recent research by the BHF has shown that members of the public are put off using the equipment in an emergency – PADs are used in only two per cent of cardiac arrest cases.

Warning signs on cabinets, which up to now have shown a lightning bolt, may partly be responsible for this low use, as it is similar to signs used to warn about danger from high voltage electrical equipment.

The new signs (pictured) use the less technical term ‘heart restarter’, akin to ‘fire extinguisher’, another common piece of emergency equipment available to the public in many places.

The signs also make clear that anyone can use the equipment, no training is required. Just turn the device on and follow the voice prompt instructions.

When a bystander uses a defibrillator/heart restarter in a cardiac arrest, survival rates of up to 70 per cent have been reported – compared to seven to eight per cent survival overall from cardiac arrest, so early recognition of cardiac arrest, immediate 999 call and bystander CPR and use of a defibrillator’/heart restarter can make a real difference.

Keith Aston, Joanna Michaelides and Professor Tom Quinn – who also volunteer with HeartStart Farnham Lions to train the public in simple lifesaving skills - have been working with town clerk Iain Lynch and others including St John Ambulance to co-ordinate installation, upkeep and raising awareness of defibrillators/heart restarters in Farnham and surrounding villages.

The position of defibrillators/heart restarters has been added to the Farnham Guide and the new signs are all part of a concerted effort to make Farnham a ‘town of lifesavers’.

All public access defibrillators/heart restarters in Farnham have been painted with special DNA markers supplied by SelectaDNA to protect them from theft.

Farnham Lions have established a defibrillator/heart restarter support fund to help pay for maintenance, repair and replenishment of the defibrillators/heart restarters (eg new batteries or electrode pads) and donations can be made via Keith Aston [email protected] who will provide appropriate transfer information.