A CAMPAIGN has begun to have defibrillators installed in Okehampton town centre and all the villages and communities in the Okehampton area.

Community defibrillators — life-saving machines that give the heart an electric shock when suffering a cardiac arrest — are increasingly common, with four in Okehampton, two in North Tawton and others in Drewsteignton, Hatherleigh and Halwill.

Just last week, Belstone's village hall committee announced a novel new use for their old village phone box by turning it into the home of their new community defibrillator.

Okehampton's defibrillators are located at Okehampton Primary School's entrance, at the Pavilion in the Park, both of which were purchased by Okehampton Lions, a third on the exterior wall of Okehampton Simmons Bowls Club purchased by club members from their charity fund and a fourth at Okehampton Argyle Football Club, purchased by the football club and only accessible when the club house is open.

A campaign has now begun to see if a further defibrillator could be installed in the town centre. John Mansell of Okehampton Lions and Okehampton Simmons Bowls Club is among those keen to see a defibrillator located on the high street.

He said: 'The area around Simmons Park is now fairly well covered in case of an emergency, which is great as Simmons Park is where most of the town's sporting activities take place.

'The bowls club and football club have used their initiative to raise their own funds to purchase a defibrillator for their use as well as our community. So have Okehampton and District Lions Club, with limited funds, helped to cover the primary school and rugby club area of the town, and the second defibrillator covering the college, park and sporting facilities.

'This still leaves the centre of town and many surrounding areas and villages with no cover at all.'

'Ideally it would be great if we could raise more funds to be able to put more of these life-saving machines around our town centre and surrounding villages where there is little or no cover.

'Cardiac arrest can happen to anyone of any age or gender who may or may not have been diagnosed with a cardiac condition. Following a cardiac arrest the chance of survival without the aid of a defibrillator decreases by 23% per minute. Therefore it's very important that medical treatment should start as soon as possible — for this reason alone time is of the essence in an emergency situation. There is a need too for our community to have some form of training and that people feel they have the confidence to actually use these life savers.'

With this in mind, Okehampton Simmons Bowls Club is hosting a defibrillator awareness meeting at their clubhouse on Thursday, May 14 at 7pm.

Members of the public, business owners and traders, councillors, representatives from sports clubs and local organisations are all invited, as are those from nearby villages and communities interested in learning about the benefits of community defibrillators.

The speaker at the meeting will be Justin Sharples, community engagement officer for the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. Justin is also a trained front-line ambulance officer and his talk will explain what to do if you see someone who has collapsed, how a defibrillator works and try to alleviate any fears individuals may have using such a machine. The meeting is informal and everyone is welcome.

The bowls club is keen to have an idea of the number of people coming so if you are planning to attend please call 01837 52871.