Appeal launched to buy 35 defibrillators for Croydon

CROYDON residents could be dying unnecessarily – for the sake of a relatively small amount of money.

This week an appeal was launched to raise thousands of pounds towards getting a number of defibrillators, which save the lives of people who have suffered a sudden cardiac arrest, stationed around the town.

Health officials gathered at Croydon University Hospital on Monday for the appeal, which was launched in a bid to get enough money raised to be able to place 35 of the life-saving machines around the borough in places such as GP practices and dental surgeries.

The British Heart Foundation (BHF) has said they need the public's help to raise £5,000 to fund the portable machines, with the hope that they will be placed in areas of high priority such as where there is a high historic incidence of cardiac arrest or where ambulances can struggle to get to.

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Croydon BHF Fundraising Volunteer Manager, Joanne Howe said: "Having more defibrillators available locally for these emergencies is crucial to saving more lives. I hope the community in Croydon will support this appeal and maybe do their own fundraising to help raise money."

Around £5,000 is needed from the public to fund the machines being installed, with each machine costing between £800 and £900.

The whole scheme has cost a whopping £30,000 in total. The 35 surgeries which will have the machines have paid a contribution of £15,000, with the BHF stumping up the other £10,000.

Defibrillators work by delivering a controlled electric shock through the chest to shock the heart back into a normal rhythm when someone has suffered a sudden cardiac arrest.

The mobile machines are known as life savers as it allows anyone to use them, and when someone has a cardiac arrest, defibrillation needs to be prompt as for every minute that passes the chances of survival decrease by 10 per cent.

To find out about how you can help call fundraising volunteer manager Joanne Howe on 07711195746 or 01474 537997. Alternatively email howej@bhf.org.uk or visit bhf.org.uk