BUSINESS in Ilkley are being urged to come forward in the search to house vital life-saving machines in the town.

The Heartstart campaign has raised the funding to provide two defibrillator machines in the town centre, to provide immediate help for anyone suffering heart attacks.

Philip Chinque, the Rotary Club co-ordinator for Heartstart - Ilkley in Wharfedale, said: "My committee decided last year that the potential benefits of defibrillators for our

residents and visitors made them important acquisitions for the community.

"However, in order to bring our equipment into commission, we must have two locations within the direct vicinity of the central car park and trained volunteers to apply the equipment."

"Ilkley Parish Council has agreed to

identify a list of suitable businesses. It is important that the companies concerned are willing to co-operate and that they are located strategically to be accessible for the greatest number of potential victims."

Parish council members are still formulating proposals but Mr Chinque has asked

businesses to contact them if they are

prepared to act as holders. They have been urged to contact Miggy Bailey, the parish clerk, at the Town Hall, Station Road.

Mr Chinque said: "Apart from being seen as providing a service for the public good, the companies involved will have the opportunity to have their staff trained in the use of the equipment.

"We will also train any members of the public who attend one of our life-support training sessions who would like to train themselves as trainers."

Dr John Neasham said: "This is a community scheme whose success depends on the

support of its residents. In the last 18 months we have trained about 250 volunteers in

emergency life support techniques. Seven of these volunteered for further training as

trainers.

"This is not so daunting, involving only two short half-day sessions in which they were asked to demonstrate and talk about what they had already learned. All seven satisfied the Ambulance Service examiners."

A defibrillator is a piece of electronic equipment which can restore a heartbeat where there has been a cardiac arrest. Until recently the equipment has been available in hospitals and with emergency vehicles.

But recent technological developments have produced less bulky equipment for use in the community by lay people.

Recently the Government announced proposals to distribute 700 defibrillators at large public sites around the country over the next 12 months. The scheme is targeted at railway stations, shopping centres and airports.

It is the first scheme of its kind in Europe but it follows the local initiative in Ilkley which has been achieved with the generous support of charitable donors.

Anyone wanting to be trained in emergency life support techniques should contact Mr Robert Auty for details of free courses.

His address is Heartstart Administrator, 59 Sandholme Drive, Burley-in-Wharfedale.

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