New Keynsham defibrillators could save lives

A HOMEBUILDER has donated two public access defibrillators (PAD) to Keynsham Town Council to benefit the community in the local area.

As part of a joint initiative with the British Heart Foundation (BHF), Taylor Wimpey Bristol is donating potentially life-saving PADs from its completed developments to communities around the UK to help people who suffer from an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

Keynsham Town Council is considering locating the PADS in the Minsmere Road area and Bilbie Green area as the two residential parts of Keynsham that need defibrillator coverage.

Katherine Sears, the council’s deputy town clerk, said: “We are incredibly grateful to Taylor Wimpey for their generous donation of defibrillators to the Keynsham community.

“Their support brings us closer to our goal of ensuring every part of Keynsham is within minutes of access to these life-saving devices. While we hope they are never needed, their presence offers peace of mind, knowing that critical equipment is available in the event of an emergency.”

A defibrillator is a portable device that can be used by anyone to help restart the heart when someone suffers from a cardiac arrest and has stopped breathing. No specific training is needed and the device will only deliver a shock to the heart if necessary.

Rob Curry, sales and marketing director at Taylor Wimpey Bristol, said: “Our partnership with the BHF is vitally important in helping to ensure that more defibrillators are available for people who might need them.”

Estelle Stephenson, head of health partnerships and community resuscitation at the British Heart Foundation, said: “We are delighted that Taylor Wimpey has contributed to the aims of the BHF by making a public access defibrillator available in Keynsham as part of their wider local campaign. It could help save a life.”

Pictured with the new defibrillators are (from left): Cllr Caitlin Brennan, Keith Simmons, managing director at Taylor Wimpey Bristol, Cllr Martin Burton, Lizzie Bennett, marketing executive at Taylor Wimpey Bristol, and Cllr Dave Biddleston