Barford leads way in Heart of England Defibrillator Campaign

The group, which aims to have a member on hand in an emergency before an ambulance arrives, is drawing attention to the village’s public access defibrillator as part of the campaign to map out the locations of devices which was recently launched by the non-profit organisation Defibfinder and is being backed by the Courier and Weekly News.

Ann Starkey, who is a co-ordinator between West Midlands Ambulance Service and the group, knows the importance of having a device available after her husband George collapsed while on a day trip to London in August 2008.

Mrs Starkey said: “What happened with George inspired us to get the defibrillator for the village .

“We were lucky because our son-in-law knew CPR and we had two good hospitals nearby but I dread to think what could have happened if it had been in the garden and the ambulance was not able to get here in time.”

The Heart of England Defibrillator campaign, being led by Defibfinder’s founder Adrian Lewis, is encouraging people, businesses, schools and organisations to register defibrillators for a map which can be accessed online and by using a smartphone.

Mrs Starkey said: “When we first had the device installed we distributed leaflets to let people know it was there but even now some people don’t know where it is.

“Adrian obviously realises there’s no point having defibrillators if people can’t locate them so it is an important campaign.”

The critical time frame in which to treat a person who has suffered a heart attack is eight minutes.

After this time they could be brain dead.

Mr Lewis said an ambulance could take up to 12 minutes to reach Barford in an emergency.

He added: “With fundraising from the villagers and help from the local ambulance service Barford is now one of the safest places to live.

“It now has a team of First Responders and a defibrillator in a cabinet on the outside wall of the village shop.”

To register a device or to find our more about the appeal call 778504, visit www.defibfinder.org or call the Courier on 457706.