Hard work of fundraisers brings defibrillator to Ironbridge

A first ever collaboration between a Shropshire Lions Club and two other local community organisations has resulted in the purchase and installation of a much needed defibrillator at a major tourist destination in the county.

Ironbridge and Severn Gorge Lions initiated the project to provide an Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) for Ironbridge after receiving a demonstration in the use of the machine which looks for ‘shockable rhythms’ and delivers a shock to try and restart a heart that has stopped.

Impressed by the fact that every minute lost relates to a 10% reduction in life expectation, Ironbridge Lions approached the Gorge Women’s Institute and Ironbridge Rotary Club with a view to sharing the cost of the project and helping to protect the welfare of the half million plus visitors who flock to the Gorge each year.

The AED demonstration to the Lions took place at the end of 2013. There then followed a great deal of background work including an application to the British Heart Foundation for additional funding, advice from first responders and lengthy discussions with the local planning department regarding a mutually acceptable location for an AED box within the restrictions of a world heritage site.

Finally, this month, the unveiling of the box took place by Ryan Kennedy a BBC Radio Shropshire presenter and Ironbridge resident. The unveiling was attended by members of Ironbridge Lions, the Gorge WI, Ironbridge Rotary Club and the West Midlands Ambulance Service, with Ryan Kennedy also recording the event for Radio Shropshire.

The work for Ironbridge Lions and their collaborators does not, however, stop there. The next stage is to talk to shop proprietors, hoteliers and other tradespeople in the town to explain what the AED is, where it can be found and how it operates. The biggest hurdle to overcome is convincing people they have nothing to fear about it.

At the unveiling, John Marsh who as Immediate Past President of Ironbridge Lions initiated the project back in 2013, said: “Getting people to accept that they have nothing to fear - both in respect of how to operate the defibrillator and in respect of the recipient’s well-being - is the hardest part. Just the other day there were two ladies in The Square, when I was kitting up the box, who said: 'It's one of those heart things. They’re springing up all over the country, but why are they doing it because you need to be experienced?

“But of course you don’t need to be experienced. And that’s why over the coming weeks we will be visiting all the local traders, asking them to install notices in their windows to indicate the AED’s location and spending time with them explaining the operation and benefits of the machine and hopefully dispelling any fears they have.

“Quite simply, the defibrillator sits within a secure key-locked cabinet outside the toilets in The Square in Ironbridge and in the event that someone has a cardiac arrest it can be accessed by dialling 999 and following the advice from the West Midlands Ambulance Service control room. Once accessed, the machine itself ‘talks through’ each stage of the procedure for its use and it can save valuable time in assisting the patient until the emergency services arrive and take over."

Max Clowes, President of The Rotary Club of Ironbridge said: “It was Ironbridge Lions initiative and we were very pleased to be invited by John to be involved in the installation of this extremely useful and lifesaving piece of equipment.”

Chris Randall, former President of The Gorge WI: “We started fundraising towards the costs of the new defibrillator two years ago by making crafts within the group and fundraising activities such as garden parties and a fashion show. By co-operating with the Lions, and Rotary getting involved as well, it has enabled us to go together and get this wonderful machine installed.”