Preston City Centre Business Improvement District (BID) is to install two life-saving public
access defibrillators in the city centre, in time for Christmas.
The BID has purchased one of the units with the second coming from the ‘Lancashire
Lifesavers’ project, a campaign run by Lancashire County Council, North West Ambulance
Service (NWAS) and BBC Radio Lancashire.
The defibs, one of which will be fitted outside Evoque on Church Street, and the second by Roper Hall on Friargate, will provide 24hour access to life-preserving medical equipment in the event of serious cardiac trauma.
Preston city centre is well served with public access defibs being accessible from several
locations including the train station, UCLan, the Town Hall and shopping centres. However,
many of the units cannot be accessed 24hours a da. Given the locations chosen for the new defibs enjoy significant daytime, evening and night time footfall, these sites have been identified as preferential locations.
John Boydell, Chair of Preston BID said: “The BID, in partnership with retail outlets and
venues across the city centre, work year-round to attract custom to Preston, we have
collective part to play in keeping visitors safe and providing access to equipment that could prove vital. We are delighted that we have been able to bring two life-saving pieces of equipment to the city centre and offer our thanks to Lancashire County Council, North West Ambulance Service and BBC Radio Lancashire”.
County Councillor Geoff Driver CBE, leader of Lancashire County Council, said: “It is great
that Preston City Centre will benefit from the Lancashire Lifesavers’ scheme.
“Early CPR and defibrillation gives patients in a cardiac arrest the best possible chance, and that’s why it is so important that community access defibrillators are available in as manyplac es as possible.
“Having defibrillators available so close to where so many people shop, eat, work and live
could make all the difference.”
The equipment, centrally registered with emergency services, is housed in a secure ambient
controlled unit which is accessible only by calling 999 to be provided with the code.
Stacey Penney from Evoque said: “Lancashire Lifesavers is an excellent scheme and we are
delighted to be able to support the BID and this vital, lifesaving initiative.”
The units, powered and lit, will self-test once per week with a visual check and online
reporting programme being undertaken by the BID.
