Defibrillator used over the Christmas is crowdfunding for replacement parts

A crowdfunding appeal has been launched to replace pads for an AED that was used over the festive period. 

A fundraiser has been launched on GoFundMe by Mandy Sarjeant on behalf of St Thomas of Canterbuy Dodbrooke Parish Church, to replace the pads on the AED after the life-saving machine was used over the Christmas period. 

The pads on an AED are what is needed to transmit the charge from the machine to the patient and are single-use

The fundraiser states: "The Dodbrooke defibrillator was used over the festive period and now requires replacement pads to be purchased and installed. As this is in the community for the community, we are seeking contributions towards the maintenance of this equipment.

"Replacement pads are £150 per set. We would like to purchase two sets so that, in the event of the defibrillator being used, it can be put immediately back into service. Owing to the proximity to Kingsbridge Primary School, we would also like to obtain a set of paediatric-size pads costing £132, in addition to a replacement battery.

"Unused, all consumables require replacement approximately every five years."

The defibrillator is situated in the porch of Dodbrooke Parish Hall and is a life-saving resource available to anyone in an emergency.

The British Heart Foundation states that "30,000 out of-hospital cardiac arrests happen each year in the UK and 9 out of 10 are sadly fatal. A cardiac arrest can affect anyone at any time, whether you’re at home, work, or out in public. So investing in a defibrillator could be the difference between life and death."

You can donate to the fundraiser here. 

Our thoughts are with the friends and family of the person who required the defibrillator over Christmas.