AVOW rolls out five new defibrillators across Wrexham

There has been a “huge thumbs up” from the Association of Voluntary Organisations in Wrexham (AVOW) as five new defibrillators have been installed at community buildings and green spaces across the county.

They say the “exciting, and lifesaving project, was made possible by Cadwyn Clwyd funds and is appreciated by the community”.

The AVOW team have worked with local groups to identify locations where the defibrillators were needed most. Wrexham based community buildings and venues were invited to apply for defibrillators and those successful were selected on a range of factors, especially distance from the nearest defibrillator, “We are pleased that we have managed to install lifesaving equipment in some of our most used recreational spaces and buildings across Wrexham County: Citizens Advice Bureau, CRNA IN Cefn Mawr, Bettisfield Village Hall, The Salvation Army and the football playing field in Coedpoeth. All defibrillators will have 24/7 access”

Jackie Tomkinson, spearheading the project for AVOW said: “This has been one of the best projects to lead for me personally. I have close family who would no longer be with us if it wasn’t for the fast response and the use of a community defibrillator. I understand the importance of having easy access to this equipment and training within a community. We have been working with the Welsh Ambulance service who will also be offering lifesaving training as part of the process. I hope that no one ever needs to use this equipment but feel it has been a great achievement installing defibrillators in these new locations.”

Funding through Cadwyn Clwyd has enabled the instillations of these defibrillators at The Circuit.

Above: Peter Jones and Brian Mansford from the Salvation Army, Wrexham, Photographed with Jackie Tomkinson from Avow.

All recipients of the defibrillators are pleased to have this equipment on site and The Citizens Advice Bureau responded by saying, “After doing first aid training we realised how important having an accessible defib is, without one people might die, it improves the chances of survival considerably.”

Above: Jackie Tomkinson from Avow at the football playing field in Coedoeth.

Above: Kris Morrison and Mark Thomas from CRNCA in Cefn Mawr and Jackie Tomkinson from Avow.

Kris Morrison the CRNCA Company Secretary said, “We applied for the defib because we have lots of older people in our groups at the centre as well as young people with heart conditions. We now leave the gates open so that people can get to the defib if they need it, all community buildings should have one.”

Above: Jackie Tomkinson from Avow outside Bettisfield Village Hall.

As part of this project, they would like to raise awareness of how to locate your nearest defibrillator in an emergency. All registered units can be located on the British heart foundation National Defibrillator Network (The Circuit). In an emergency search their map to find your nearest one, other information and guidance can also be found on their website.

Top pic: Anu Anandaram, Nicky Nelson, Tina Davies, Natalie Jones and Samantha MacKenzie-Grieve form Citizens Advice Bureau photographed with Jackie Tomkinson from Avow.