VILLAGERS can now give life-saving treatment to their neighbours after Burnham-on-Crouch became the first place in Essex to receive one of 100 defibrillators to be dished out in the county.
The equipment was installed outside the Co-op on Foundry Lane and allows residents to resuscitate someone in the event of a cardiac arrest before paramedics arrive at an emergency.
Andrew Barlow, community partnership manager for the East of England Ambulance Service, said: "If someone can administer CPR or use one of these community access defibrillators within the first four minutes while an ambulance is on route, there is a significantly higher survival rate.
"When a call is made to the emergency services, if there is more than one person with the casualty, the caller will be directed to the nearest defibrillator.
"An access code and guidance will be given over the phone by the 999 operator and guidance on how to use the equipment."
The equipment, funded by the East of England Co-operative Society, will be rolled out to locations across the county which are more difficult to reach in the event of an emergency, with more to be installed in Heybridge, Maldon and Witham over the next few weeks.
Amanda Long, executive officer for membership, marketing and media for the East of England Co-operative Society, said: "It was great to see local residents take such an interest.
"While the defibrillator gives step by step instructions, which would be backed up with support from a 999 operator, we also want to highlight how action in the first four minutes can help to save a life.
"The enthusiastic and knowledgeable medical representatives were able to answer questions and provide insightful demonstrations to give local residents more confidence in the event of an emergency."
Deputy Mayor Neil Pudney joined local residents, community groups and councillors in learning more about how the defibrillator works.
They were able to practice using the equipment on resuscitation dolls, under the expert guidance of first responders and members of the Ambulance Service.
The installation forms part of the Society's Every Minute Counts campaign which aims to reach 100 communities across the East of England with the life-saving apparatus.
