New defibrillator installed at Sandon Close Community Centre in Grantham

A new defibrillator available to the public 24/7 has been installed outside a community centre.

Thanks to a combined effort from SOS Grantham Hospital, South Kesteven District Council and LIVES, a defibrillator has been added to the outside of Sandon Close Community Centre.

District Councillor Charmaine Morgan, who is also chair of SOS Grantham Hospital, said: “It’s great to see this potentially life-saving equipment now installed as part of a project involving SOSGrantham Hospital, SKDC and LIVES.

“It will accessible to residents living in Sandon Close and residents and visitors to surrounding streets.

“It seemed particularly appropriate to have the defibrillator in the Sandon Close sheltered housing scheme giving parity with Witham Place and Riverside schemes which are among the other sites they are now located.

“Our first defibrillator went up on the public toilet wall on Conduit Lane.”

Coun Morgan explained that there were plans to arrange some training sessions for residents to use the equipment in the near future.

She continued: “We also worked with Grantham Lions who helped install defibrillators at Wyndham Park Visitor Centre, Dysart Park on the public toilet wall, and Queen Elizabeth Park.

“If one life is saved it will be worth the effort.”

All defibrillators provided by our joint project are accessible to the public 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and in an emergency, 999 operators will direct people to the nearest defibrillator.

Coun Morgan added: “Rotarians have also installed defibrillators in Grantham. The more we have the better.

“The pending downgrade of Grantham A&E to an Urgent Treatment Centre and distances our emergency ambulances must travel, make it all the more important we have [defibrillators].

“They are easy to use with clear written instructions and a voice message also tells users what to do.

The defibrillator at Sandon Close has been well received and it's good to know its presence has offered some sense of reassurance the community here.”