Businesses equipped with life-saving defibrillators
EACH major shopping area of Ballyfermot Road now has life saving equipment to hand nearby after the installation of a defibrillator at Tescos.
Tescos donated €2,000 to Ballyfermot branch of St John’s Ambulance for a defibrillator, and six of their staff members were trained by St John’s members.
The majority of businesses on Ballyfermot Road are now equipped to care for someone who has suffered cardiac arrest, before an ambulance arrives, potentially saving lives.
The initiative to introduce defibrillators in commercial area of Ballyfermot began last year when Padraig Allen and Mick Cardiff from the Ballyfermot division of St John’s Ambulance, set out to make the community a safer place.
They went around to business in an effort to raise funds for the equipment and training, and have completed this in both the upper and lower parts of Ballyfermot Road.
Earlier this Summer, an elderly Kylemore Road resident died after suffering heart trouble outside the Tescos in Ballyfermot.
“Tescos gave us funding for a defibrillator and training for staff – they recognise that something happened and were pro-active,” said Padraig Allen.
“We now have defibrillators in all schools and colleges in Ballyfermot except for four, and we got one put outside the Ballyfermot Sports and Social Club last September.”
Tesco Ballyfermot Store Manager Rachael Garton, said: “We have made a donation to the local branch of St John’s Ambulance to purchase a defibrillator for the local community that will be housed at our store.
“Volunteers from St. John’s Ambulance have provided training to colleagues from Tesco Ballyfermot along with 22 responders from the local community on how to use the defibrillator to help ensure the fastest response possible for medical emergencies in the area.”
Defibrillators are now located at Tescos, Centra, Grange Cross, Chasers and Londis on Ballyfermot Road.
