Cardiac Smart award for Oldham and Saddleworth Lib Dems
Cllr Derek Heffernan (left) with Garth Harkness at The Three Crowns pub in Scouthead
Reporter: Stuart Littleford
Oldham and Saddleworth Liberal Democrats have won a Cardiac Smart award for making the local area more resilient in terms of improving the clinical outcomes of those who have unfortunately suffered a cardiac arrest.
The group will be presented with the award on 23 June 2017 in Leyland.
Saddleworth based Liberal Democrat councillors Alan Roughley, Garth Harkness and Derek Heffernan ran a campaign to get a defibrillator in every village in Saddleworth to be accessible 24 hours.
Councillor Garth Harkness told Saddleworth News: “It is a great privilege to be receiving such an award which needs to be shared with community groups and volunteers across Saddleworth. I want to pay tribute to the Saddleworth and Lees district co-ordinator Chris Wilson who helped us make this happen.”
Councillor Derek Heffernan added: “We are pleased to see so many defibrillators accessible across the borough 24 hours an example that other areas hopefully will follow. The guardians who check them each week are a vital part in ensuring we have good coverage.”
Shaw and Crompton Liberal Democrat councillors ensured the lifelong learning centre has a 24 hour accessible defibrillator.
Councillor Dave Murphy said: “Outside hospital cardiac arrests every year in the UK see less than a 10% survival rate. When every minute counts it is important to be able to have quick access to defibrillators. The Ambulance service have been very supportive all the way in getting us to where we are as a borough.”
The award also recognises the work the group have done on the council to improve access to defibrillators across the borough and the work done on promoting and arranging lifesaving courses.
Author: Jude Gidney - Editor
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