A FREE life-saving demonstration was given to the people of Toft Hill and Etherley as part of a training event on how to use the villages’ new defibrillator.
With the help of generous donations, Etherley Parish Council arranged to purchase a heart-start machine from the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) earlier this year. It was installed outside the Three Tuns pub, in Toft Hill, in August, with the kind permission of landlady Rachael Chapman.
A representative from the NEAS delivered a free community training session earlier this month at Toft Hill and Etherley Community Centre.
Parish council clerk Alison Overfield said: “We have been trying to get one of these in the village for a long time. We have been looking for a suitable location.
“We didn’t have one and felt as though we should have one in the village.
“We have a lot of sporting activities going on in the village,” she added.
“It is something that might not get used. We hope it doesn’t get used but it is there just in case.”
Residents, councillors, members of the local churches, members of the community association and representatives from local businesses, including those who helped with funding, attended the session.
The device, which is secured in a locked cabinet, cost about £1,800. A donation of £800 was received from OF Bell Injection Moulding and county councillors Heather Smith and Stephen Hugill each contributed £200 towards the cost. The parish council then footed the rest of the bill. Lightfoot Electrical, of Bishop Auckland, completed the electrical installation free of charge.
Mrs Overfield said: “Today we are being shown how to use the defibrillator as well as how to do life-saving CPR. It is interesting.”
Ms Overfield thanked everyone for their help.
She said: “We are so grateful for the support we have been given.
“Everyone has done their part. We would also like to thank the North East Ambulance Service. They have been so supportive.”
Anyone who needs to access the device should dial 999.
The operator will be able to provide an access code to unlock the cabinet so that the defibrillator can be used.
