Caravan park gets its own life-saving heart machine (From Cotswold Journal)

Caravan park gets its own life-saving heart machine

2:00pm Tuesday 2nd October 2012 in News

A LIFE-SAVING new device is being fitted at a holiday home park as part of a campaign by the St John Ambulance.

The Ranch Caravan Park at Honeybourne, near Evesham, now has its own on-site defibrillator, while staff have also been trained to use it if the worst should happen.

Steve Attridge, who runs the park, has bought an automated external defibrillator, which can administer an electric shock to someone in cardiac arrest, helping to get back a steady heart rhythm. When someone suffering cardiac arrest is some distance from professional medical help, a defibrillator can make a life-saving difference.

Mr Attridge said with 220 holiday homes and up to 120 touring caravans, and customers ranging from older couples to families with young children, it was good to be prepared. He said: “Over the years we have had a few health issues and the first aid training really helps. Having the machine on site, as well as the first aiders trained to use it, gives people extra confidence that we would be able to help if needed.”

The purchases follow St John Ambulance’s campaign for more locations to be fitted with the devices, with 54 now paid for as a result of that awareness driv