Merthyr Tydfil Housing Association (Merthyr Housing) through its community benefits initiative, have installed two new defibrillators in the Pant community to support the health needs of those living in the area.
The Pant community identified that there were two key areas where the defibrillators would be most effective – the Pant Cad Ifor Pub, as this is part of a popular walking route and close to the Brecon railway, the other, is at the Pant Premier Store and Kitchen, as this is at the heart of the village.
The work was undertaken by Prolec Energy Solutions, who donated their time to install the defibrillators and their lockable cases.
Through the community benefits initiative, Merthyr Housing and ARC Training provided defibrillator training to the year six pupils at Pantysgallog Primary School with the aim to help raise awareness, skills, and confidence of the next generation to use CPR and a defibrillator should they need to.
Karen Courts, Chief executive for Merthyr Housing commented, “We are delighted to be able to support the Pant community with the installation of this lifesaving equipment as a commitment to supporting community need.”
“Thank you to Prolec for taking the time to help us with making sure that the two defibrillators are safely installed and are now available for community use, as well as to ARC Training who helped carry out essential training with the Pantysgallog Primary School pupils. By more of us understanding how to do CPR and use defibrillators, it will hopefully mean more lives can be saved in a cardiac emergency.”
Access to a defibrillator gives a higher chance of survival in a cardiac event alongside CPR. The Resuscitation Council through research found that early defibrillation within three to five minutes of collapse can increase survival rates by as high as 50 to 70%*.
Rhys Mullins and Matthew Jones, co-owners of Prolec Energy Solutions added, “We are really pleased that we have been able to help Merthyr Housing and the Pant community with this installation. A defibrillator really can save lives and while we hope that they never get used, we’re proud to know that they could also make a big difference.”
Resuscitation Council research can be found here: https://www.resus.org.uk/about-us/news-and-events/make-defibs-accessible-247-help-increase-survival-rates-across-uk-say
