A PARISH council worker who was inspired by Jersey’s public defibrillators to introduce the life-saving devices in her own village has called for better monitoring of those in the Island.
Jenny Gellatly, who works for Little Paxton Parish Council in Cambridgeshire, first saw Jersey’s public access defibrillators while on holiday in 2009.
After returning home, she suggested her parish follow Jersey’s example – and her village now has four of the devices.
But, returning to the Island on holiday 17 years later, Mrs Gellatly said some of Jersey’s defibrillators were “very tired looking” and “probably need to be replaced or upgraded”.
In the UK, defibrillators can be registered with The Circuit, a national database used by emergency services during cardiac arrests.
The online system also enables those responsible for the devices to monitor when batteries and pads need replacing.
“When you log on to The Circuit, it prompts you to say, for example, your two pads are due to expire in two months and order them – that kind of thing,” explained Mrs Gellatly.
“They do go out quite often. One was out last week. You can have weeks, and none of them go out, and then you can have two go out in a day. We just don’t know, but it’s about knowing they’re available when they’re needed.”
The importance of knowing where working defibrillators are located was highlighted in the JEP’s front-page story about a holidaymaker who suffered a heart attack in St Brelade’s Bay and was rescued by passers-by.
Those who came to his aid said the incident highlighted the urgent need for an up-to-date map so that life-saving equipment can be found as quickly as possible.
Jersey Heart Support Group operates a defibrillator guardian scheme, but without reliable information about where all the Island’s devices are located, properly checking them is impossible.
The group is now developing its own database, Defib.je, which will provide emergency services with reliable information about the location and condition of defibrillators. It hopes any problems identified can be rectified within 24 hours.
Mrs Gellatly said maintaining the devices did not require a significant amount of work.
“It takes five minutes to check them. It’s not a big task.”
