Three life-saving defibrillators promised after Pewsey campaign is revived (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Three life-saving defibrillators promised after Pewsey campaign is revived

4:00pm Friday 2nd November 2012 in News

Within days of the campaign to have life-saving defibrillators in several locations in Pewsey being revived by butcher Nigel Lihou, three have been pledged and it’s hoped to have the first one installed by Christmas.

Pewsey has one of the worst ambulance response times in the whole of Wiltshire and although it formerly had first responders available to dash to emergencies there are none currently.

There were talks in the village about getting defibrillators installed and the parish council had tried to get a meeting with Community Heartbeat, the charity that has helped install them in a number of villages.

The talks floundered and Mr Lihou raised the subject at the parish council meeting three weeks ago.

Since then he has received pledges to buy three defibrillators and hopes to see the first one, possibly two, installed by Christmas.

Pewsey has one of the longest ambulance response times in Wiltshire because of its distance from any stations and a former parish councillor Joe Thompson once said: “If anyone in Pewsey is going to have a heart attack, have it somewhere else.”

Now, thanks to Mr Lihou and support from parish councillor Phil Stevens the village is about to get three, one paid for by Pewsey Vale Running Club and two by the parish council.

The first ones will be installed at the Scout Hut in Slater Road, at the Citizens Advice Bureau in North Street next to the fire station and a third will be installed near the school and leisure centre.

Coun Stevens said: “We have managed to get pledges to buy three in a week.

“We are looking to get eight in total and they will be located around the village so that every home is no more than a couple of minutes from one.

“We need to find the money for a further five and donations can be handed in at the parish council offices (cheques payable to Pewsey Parish Council Defibrillator Account) or to Mr Lihou at Pewsey Vale Butchers.”

Mr Lihou, who has five grandchildren, said he became concerned when the withdrawal of first responders left the village without any emergency support until an ambulance arrives.

Mr Lihou said: “It was one of my customers who came into the shop and mentioned the lack of any first responders.

“ That started me thinking about getting defib- rillators in the village.”