Statement by TUV Deputy Mayor of Mid and East Antrim Borough Council, Cllr Timothy Gaston:
“After a cardiac arrest every minute without CPR and defibrillation reduces someone’s chance of survival by 10%.
“It is estimated that with only using CPR after a cardiac arrest the survival rate is only 5% whereas using a defibrillator along with CPR can increase survival to up to 50%.
“Over the past 2 years Ballymena has seen its provisions of defibrillators greatly increase I must pay a special tribute to the Stephen Lowry Memorial Trust who with all their tireless fundraising and generously have donated 8 defibrillators to the local communities to use.
“I want to see council work alongside the Emergency Services to identify all existing defibrillators, making sure adequate signage is in place and for us to use our social media to raise the awareness in our local communities of their locations.
“And indeed, where the emergency Services identify gaps in our high volume public areas that council put a plan in place to make sure we have an adequate provision right across our new Borough.”