Douglas Borough Council has joined forces with Manx charity Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation to provide an automatic external defibrillator (AED) at Shaw’s Brow car park.
The unit has been fixed to the car park’s external wall in Barrack Street at the junction with Church Street.
Earlier this year the two organisations partnered in the installation of an AED in Noble’s Park.
On each occasion the council provided the device and Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation the outer casing.
Environmental services committee chairman Ritchie McNicholl said: ‘The council is pleased to have partnered with Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation again to provide this potentially life-saving equipment that can be accessed by the public day and night.
‘Sudden cardiac arrest can happen at any time, anywhere, often far from a hospital environment. In such a situation, every minute, every second counts. Rapid bystander response through means of an AED can substantially improve the sufferer’s chances of survival.’
The council has staff trained in the use of defibrillators which, in addition to Noble’s Park and Shaw’s Brow car park, are installed at Douglas town hall, Douglas golf course, Henry Bloom Noble Library, Douglas borough crematorium and Ballacottier service centre.
Photo - Left to right Paul Healey and Paula Lunt of Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation with Councillor Ritchie McNicholl and assistant chief officer – regeneration Chris Pycroft with the newly installed AED at Shaw’s Brow car park. Picture Andrew Barton.
