I am urging local groups to apply for a new £1 million fund offering grants for new defibrillators in communities.
Applications are now open for the Community Automated External Defibrillators (AED) fund.
Organisations can apply for a grant to install the life-saving kit that will be externally mounted to enable 24-hour access by members of the public.
Defibrillators are usually in brightly coloured boxes mounted outside shops, community centres and other buildings.
The devices are designed to be used by members of the public without training to restart someone’s heart if they have gone into cardiac arrest.
Latest research shows that using them within three to five minutes of a cardiac arrest increases the chance of survival by over 40%.
Defibrillators save lives - it’s as simple as that - and I am urging local groups to put in an application to this fund.
The more we have in Stourbridge, the more people will survive a heart attack and places like the local Post Office or village hall are really suitable sites.
The fund aims to provide at least 1,000 new defibrillators for community spaces across England and I would like at least one to be in Stourbridge.
Groups should drop me a line if they are interested because I would like to support any application.
Applications will be submitted to Smarter Society and the London Hearts Charity, who have been jointly chosen to manage the grant funding.
Organisations can apply at this link: https://www.defibgrant.co.uk/#apply
