Second town centre life-saver installed

THAME’S Staying Alive campaign, has recently installed a life-saving community defibrillator in Pump Lane, and is planning a ‘Waggles and Wellies’ charity dog walk to raise funds for another.

Situated by the hair salon, between Buttermarket and Cornmarket, this is the Staying Alive campaign’s second community defibrillator, the first being sited at the Scout HQ in Southern Road. (See previous post)

The new defibrillator was officially inaugurated by the Mayor, Jeannette Matelot Green, and Helen Plant. The majority of the money for the latest device was raised at a Zumbathon in March, organised by Rachel Swift and Sandra Brooks, at Barley Hill School.

Staying Alive Thame is a small community group whose aim is to place community defibrillators throughout Thame. Inside these boxes are automated external defibrillators (AED) which only activate if the machine cannot detect a heartbeat, making them easy to use safely. Using the defibrillator within four minutes of collapse gives the best possible chance of survival. Emergency operators who answer 999 calls have been given the locations of the devices, so they can direct people to their nearest community defibrillator.

On Sunday, September 21, the group are holding a fundraising dog walk, called Waggles and Wellies. Tickets are £10 and available from Brothers and Thame Barns Centre.

Staying Alive Thame is keen to encourage any business in Thame which has defibrillators to consider putting them in external boxes so that they can be used by all in an emergency.

If you would like to know more about the group, you can follow them on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Staying-Alive-Thame/182175945318184, or call Patsy on 01844 217308.