New defibrillator for Darlington
The fundraising efforts of local pubs in Darlington have helped to make the town safer for visitors as a new, centrally located, defibrillator is installed at the base of the iconic clock tower
The installation of the life saving device comes after months of fundraising by members of the local Pubwatch scheme. Together, they raised more than £1,000 through a series of charity nights and raffles.
The group has worked with Darlington Borough Council to agree a location for the device. The council has also funded the installation of the defibrillator in a secure, wall mounted case. The new device has paediatric pads so it can be used on young children as well as adults
James Buxton, Chair of Darlington Pubwatch and the general manager of the Tapas Bar, said:
“I am delighted that the device has now been installed. It’s the result of everyone working together, the pubs, their customers, and the council, to make this idea a reality.
“The idea of a defibrillator was brought up in one of our regular meetings. We know that there are two other devices in the town. These are in the Dolphin Centre and The Cornmill Shopping Centre which are closed later in the day.
“We felt there was a need for a device which can be accessed by the public in a central location 24 hours a day. This new device means that anyone falling seriously ill while they were out and about in the town at any time could potentially have their life saved.”
Chris Metters, manager of The Boot and Shoe pub, added:
“This is a vital piece of life saving equipment which is now available 24/7 in the town centre. Our regulars have been very generous and have all helped towards our fundraising efforts. I’m proud to say that our pub raised around a third of the cash needed, thank you to everyone who put their hands in their pocket.”
Councillor Alan Marshall, Darlington Borough Council’s cabinet member for economy and regeneration, said:
“The council is pleased to support this campaign which will help to make the town centre safer for everyone. The location at the clock tower makes it very easy to find and is at the central point in the town.
“We hope in some ways that it will never be needed, but it is there just in case. This has been a real team effort and we have worked together to make this suggestion become a reality. Thanks to everyone who played their part along the way.”
Access to the defibrillator is via a 999 emergency call. The call handler will assess the situation and give advice on how to access and use the device. The new defibrillator is registered with the national ambulance service and will show up on any searches made by a call handler.
Pubwatch is a national body that works with local police and licensing to promote safer pubs. They work together on drug awareness and personal safety campaigns such as Ask Angela and have also worked with Public Health campaigns such as Dry January.
The Darlington group has around 60 members. They now meet on a virtual basis and work closely with the council and Police to promote a safe leisure and drinking environment, especially in the evening.