© 2023 Buckland Newton Community Website Committee Last updated 25th September 2023 09:20 Website design and update by Jeremy Collins
Defibrillator
The village now has its own
defibrillator, housed in an unlocked
cupboard on an outside wall of the
Village Hall by the kitchen door, under
the veranda
Buckland Newton Community Website
in the heart of rural Dorset
Buckland Newton Defibrillator
Information
The Defib Committee:
Every year we publish information about the
Defibrillator we have here in Buckland Newton
which is of particular benefit to those who have
recently moved here.
Where is it?
The Defibrillator is housed in an unlocked cupboard
on the outside wall of Buckland Newton Village Hall
by the back door to the kitchen. It is available for
use in an emergency on the instructions of the
paramedics after a 999 call.
Who can use it?
Although anyone can use the Defib (it speaks
instructions to you) there are people in the village
who are trained in its use. The phone card (you
could cut it out to keep by the phone) explains how
the system works and who to contact. Many thanks
to all the runners for their continued support. the list
of runners is published in the LVN every month
inside cover.
Maintenance of Defib
The Defibrillator is checked almost every day by our
unsung hero, Sandie Stout, to make sure it is in full
working order. She is in contact with the South West
Ambulance Service for any replacement supplies
needed. Sandie is also a committee member and
runner.
Training in its use
We hold a Defib, and CPR Training morning held in
the village hall every year taken by the South West
Ambulance Service. Anyone can attend.
Careline Users
If you are a Careline User, please ensure your
provider is aware of the existence of the defib in the
village.
Defib Notes
In an emergency always ring 999 - ambulance -
straight away; they will advise you.
How you get the defibrillator in an emergency is
worth a bit of prior thought. Maybe you have a
friend or neighbour who is willing to help, either to
fetch the defib or to contact a Defib Runner for you.
The Defib Runners are not to be called out at
any other time except when the ambulance
service has asked for the defibrillator to be
brought - for all other medical problems please
ring 999 or see your GP.
The defib cupboard with the defib inside is
located at the Village Hall and is well signposted
but it may be a good idea to check out for yourself
exactly where it is next time you pass the Village
Hall.
Information cards, to be kept by the phone, have
been delivered to every house - if you have not
received yours, please contact Fizz Lewis on
345521. They show the list of Defib Runners who
have agreed to be telephoned at any time to fetch
the defibrillator. It is of course up to you whether
you want to use them or a neighbour or friend.
NB: for anyone who hasn’t been to an awareness
session on the defib - this apparatus will not work
on anyone whose heart is still beating. Use of CPR
and the defib, under Ambulance Service instruction,
gives a person the best possible outcome after an
arrest.
The machine is being checked once a week by two
Committee members, to ensure it is perfect working
order. South West Ambulance Service Trust are
responsible for the maintenance and sorting any
problems. The original defib has been replaced by
a new one in December 2020.
The Defib Committee
Jan Burnett, Diana Wells, Sandie Stout, Jane Willis
and Fizz Lewis
We are very grateful to all our volunteer Defib
Runners. We would like to know if there is anyone
else, especially if they live near the village hall, who
would like to volunteer to go on the list too. The
Defibrillator is checked almost every day by our
unsung hero, Sandie Stout, to make sure it is in full
working order. Some of the supplies with it are
replaced annually by SWAST who are in contact
with Sandie. Sandie is also a Committee member
and Runner and we are very grateful to her for this
work.