PEMBREY COUNTRY PARK’S SUMMER ADDITION

A vital piece of life saving equipment has been made available at Pembrey Country Park’s cafe bar for its busiest period.

The Sidan was chosen as one of the outlets to benefit from a Zoll AED Plus defibrillator – normally used in schools – for the summer holidays.

On loan from Cariad charity, the specialist unit delivers a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the heart, and can increase the chances of survival should someone suffer a heart attack.  It also has the ability to audio guide a rescuer through chest compressions.

Research shows that 8,000 people will suffer a cardiac arrest outside of the hospital environment every year in Wales. At least 12 young people will die every week and 7 people every hour in the UK.

Cariad charity’s Anthony Hamilton-Shaw said: “These defibrillators are kept in schools all year around, so we decided rather than leave them sitting there doing nothing for the six week holidays we’d distribute them to areas that are highly populated. Defibrillators are safe and easy to use and each unit coaches the rescuer quickly and simply through every important step of the rescue process.”

Cefn Sidan Beach life station is also equipped with emergency and first aid tools including a defibrillator. Llanelli North Dock’s Discovery Centre has also benefited from a unit as part of the summer scheme.

The council’s countryside and coast manager, Rory Dickinson said: “We’d like to thank Cariad for lending us the defibrillators during our busy summer period.”

Cariad is a registered charity and works closely with the Welsh Ambulance Service and Community First Responder. It was set up to raise funds to provide local schools and communities with defibrillators and life saving training. A fund raising night is being held at Selwyn Samuel Centre on Friday, September 4. For tickets or defibrillator information please email sheri@mycariad.org