Kettering care home installs public defibrillator

A care home in Kettering has installed a defibrillator outside its building to be used by the public in an emergency.

Westhill Park care home has put the defibrillator outside their building in Chataway Drive after a late resident left some money for the home.

Home manager Susanne Stevens said: "Margaret Mason was a lovely lady who lived with us last year and after she passed away her friend Maureen told us she wanted to leave some money to the home in remembrance of her."

Westhill Park talked with Maureen to settle on a suitable legacy for Margaret. They agreed to use some of the funds to install a defibrillator for the local community in the middle of the new housing estate where the care home is situated.

There will be a ribbon cutting ceremony when it is safe to gather again and Maureen, Margaret's friend, will be invited to do the honours.

Defibrillators give a high energy electric shock to the heart and are used when someone is in cardiac arrest.

The British Heart Foundation says if you come across someone in cardiac arrest call 999, start CPR, ask someone to bring you a defibrillator if there is one nearby, then turn it on and follow the instructions.

Defibrillators can be found in public spaces across the country.

They can be used by anyone, there are clear instructions on how to attach the pads. The device then monitors the heart rhythm and will instruct the user to deliver a shock only if it is needed.

Defibrillators can save lives. A 999 call handler will often be able to tell you where a public access defibrillator is and instruct you how to administer CPR and the defibrillator.

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