Defibrillator boost for Dungannon town centre

by Gillian McDade

A new defibrillator has been installed at Market Square in Dungannon.

It’s on the outside wall of the bank.

Mid Ulster Policing and Community Safety Partnership has been working in conjunction with the Ulster Bank to get a defib.

A defibrillator is potentially a life-saving electrical device that provides a shock to the heart when there is a life-threatening arrhythmia present.

They play an important role in restoring normal heart rhythm until emergency services arrive.

Defibrillators are generally lightweight, battery-operated, portable devices that are easy to use.

Using a defibrillator to shock the heart within minutes of the attack may restore a normal heart rhythm.

Chair of Mid Ulster PCSP, Cllr Frances Burton said there has been a considerable amount of work getting to this point.

“I wish to commend everybody involved in this initiative, particularly, Emma O’Hagan, Allan Stevenson and Chris Lunn from Ulster Bank for arranging to have the defibrillator installed on their outside wall,” she says.

Emma O’Hagan, Branch Manager, Ulster Bank Dungannon says having a defibrillator shock can be vital to a person’s chance of surviving a cardiac arrest.

“We are pleased to support the council in making this life-saving device available to the public, and to have trained our team in the branch in the use of CPR and the defibrillator.

“Funded training from the Policing and Community Safety Partnership is available to support other businesses in the area to learn how to use this life saving device for the benefit of the community as a whole,” she adds.

PSNI Sector Inspector, Keith Jamieson says police welcome the installation of the defibrillator in such a prime location in Market Square.

“This defibrillator has a fully automated system which means that when someone calls 999, the ambulance control room can give them a code to unlock the defibrillator and then verbal instructions will be given as to how to use the defibrillator. It will be available to use 24 hours a day.”

Mid Ulster PCSP has also installed defibrillators in Cookstown and Magherafelt town centres.

For more information please contact Mid Ulster PCSP on 03000 132 132.