A NEW defibrillator has been installed in Tavistock, the first one available for the public to access within the town.

Tavistock Street Pastors installed the life-saving piece of technology at The Bedford Hotel in order to provide first aid assistance to someone suffering a heart attack.

A defibrillator is easy to use and guides a first-aider through the steps necessary to deliver a shock to re-start the heart of someone in cardiac arrest.

Rob Palmer, co-ordinator for the street pastors, said everyone was grateful to Gulworthy, Lamerton and Tavistock councils for enabling the purchase of the defibrillator through a grant from the Town and Parish (TAP) Fund.

The team was also grateful to the management at The Bedford Hotel for their assistance.

Mr Palmer said: ‘The treatment given in the first few minutes is lifesaving and time is essential. It is fantastic that there’s now some equipment available within the town centre that could potentially save lives.

‘Of course, the ambulance service should be called immediately on 999 in any emergency, but for anyone suffering a heart attack, their best chance of survival is when they receive basic life support within three minutes to restore normal heart rhythm.’

The equipment can easily be accessed at any time of the day or night from an alarmed cabinet, which is mounted on the outside wall to the right hand side of the hotel steps.

Brett Kinsman-Daw of the Bedford Hotel said ‘The Hotel is very pleased to be able to assist by providing a central location for this very worthwhile piece of equipment.’

Tavistock Street Pastors, volunteer Christians from local churches, started their first patrols in 2009 and continue to be out on the streets late on Friday and Saturday nights giving help to anyone in need.

The first group of 15 street pastors have received practical hands-on training and the new equipment has been registered with the South Western Ambulance Service accreditation scheme.

It’s presence and exact location will be publicised to local businesses, taxi drivers etc, and will be on the ambulance service database in case of a 999 call so that a first aider can be directed to it.

Mr Palmer added: ‘It’s easy to use and won’t allow a shock to be administered to someone who doesn’t need it.’

A rapid response with Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) followed by defibrillation using the new equipment can give someone a good chance of surviving a heart attack, with survival rates being as high as 75%.

A rapid response is vital as with every minute of delay the sufferer’s chances of survival can fall by 10%.