New Defibrillator Commissioned at Hamilton Library

Hamilton Residents Association, in collaboration with Hamilton Library, Leicester City Council, and with matched funding from the charity “London Heart,” has now publicly launched the newly installed heart defibrillator on the outside wall of the Hamilton Library! 

Councillor Ashiedu Joel was present to cut the tape and declare the facility available for the community to use when necessary. The defibrillator is housed in a secure cabinet that is illuminated and temperature controlled and also ensures the unit is always charged up and ready for use. Access is controlled by the emergency services on a 999 call, and they will also assist by giving step-by-step instructions to anyone who needs to use it.

The launch was followed by a training session on CPR and Defibrillator use, given by East Midlands Ambulance Community Trainer - Harsha Kotecha - whose day job is as a First Responder in the Leicester City area including Hamilton.  

Harsha explained what would happen if someone collapsed with a cardiac arrest, and needed CPR whilst the Defibrillator was retrieved from the cabinet.  The first step is always to check that you are not putting yourself in danger by assisting the person who has collapsed! She explained how the defibrillator works and where to put the pads on a person needing help, and the unit will work automatically when a shock would be beneficial – giving instructions for personal safety.

Harsha can be emailed at harsha.kotecha@emas.nhs.uk

Members of the community had the opportunity to try out CPR skills on dummies which simulate the resistance of the human body so that you can feel how much pressure is needed to effect successful CPR. 

We are very grateful to all those who worked together to make this project a reality, especially Minal Kotecha for the grant applications and co-ordinating all the work, Alvin Jarvis from the Library, and the LCC Team who did the cabinet installation.

Further training sessions are being planned for the new year, and we will advertise these when dates are fixed. We are very grateful to Harsha, who is willing to come and take these sessions for us—the more people who are trained, the better prepared we will be in an emergency! Harsha is also planning to be at the PTA Christmas event at Hope Hamilton Primary School on Saturday, 14th December, from 11am to 3 pm, and would be happy to take a training session for other community groups; just let us know and we will help you to facilitate it!

Stephen Wadsworth, HRA Chair