Museum presented with lifesaving device

Museum presented with lifesaving device

21 May 2014

DOWNPATRICK Lions Club has unveiled plans to purchase a fourth lifesaving defibrillator for the town.

The organisation has already helped purchase three of the devices which are located in various parts of the town centre.

One defibrillator is housed at the Asda store at the Ballydugan retail park while another is currently located at Gordons Chemists in Market Street, but is due to be moved to a former BT telephone kiosk a short distance away at the end of the month.

A third defibrillator was presented to staff at the Down County Museum last week. The Lions Club plans to start fundraising to purchase a fourth device which will be placed elsewhere in the town.

The defibrillators provide emergency medical assistance to people who have had a cardiac arrest by delivering a small electric shock to help restart their heart.

In addition to raising funds for the devices, Downpatrick Lions Club has also been assisting the British Red Cross in organising dedicated training sessions for people on how to use the equipment.

Lions Club official, Seamus McMullan, said the organisation is indebted to the many people and businesses who have supported its public access defibrillator project.

He said the Lions Club joined forces with Asda to deliver the lifesaving device at its store and thanked Gordons Chemist for allowing its market Street premises to temporarily house the defibrillator until the former BT kiosk was converted.

“Our third defibrillator was presented last week to Down County Museum Curator Dr. Mike King by our club president Brendan Kearney as part of our continuing community-based project,” said Mr. McMullan.

“Dr. King was anxious that the museum should have a defibrillator because of the wide age range of people who visit this popular venue. He is also pleased that the portable machine will be available for use anywhere in English Street in an emergency.”

Mr. McMullan said the Lions Club was delighted to assist Mr. King and his staff to purchase the device and also organise training sessions for them and other local people on how to use the equipment.

Looking to the future, Mr. McMullan confirmed the Lions Club now has plans to purchase a fourth device and will be asking the public for financial support.

“There are ongoing discussions with interested groups and organisations regarding a suitable location to house another defibrillator,” he continued. “We would be anxious that it should possibly be located in an area of high population density in Downpatrick and hope the public will be pleased with the venue chosen and agreed upon in the near future.”

Mr. McMullan said that since the start of the year, around 40 local people have taken part in training courses delivered by the British Red Cross on how to use the lifesaving equipment and thanked them for their interest and support.