Public AED

During my last course we were vigorously exhorted to encourage our workplaces to get an AED. Sadly, I must report failure in this.

Given that a basic model costs almost twelve hundred quid I'm not surprised, but it would be a good idea.

In the meantime, they are becoming more available in public places, such as shopping centres and railway stations.

Hampshire's Fine Example

The above installation is in the centre of the village of Hook in Hamphire, complete with a mains connection to keep the battery charged.

According to the manual an alarm will sound when the weather-proof cover is opened.

I think this one is different: you have to dial 999 and tell them you need it. They then give you the code to release it via the keypad. No alarm mentioned, but I haven't tried it.

There are no phone boxes in the village, so you'll need a mobile.

It's a brilliant idea. It periodically gets mooted that there should be a law requiring every shop to have one. Common sense has stopped this, otherwise Hook would have over half a dozen in shops that are closed three-quarters of the time. This one is available 24/7.

An AED?

It stands for Automatic External Defibrillator.

• Automatic: it's designed for use by anyone, without training.
  
  
• External: it's used on the skin, not by an 'invasive procedure'.
  
  
• Defibrillator: essentially means it can re-start the heart.
  
  

Having an AED to hand reduces the time required for performing CPR
(a tiring process), and saves waiting for the ambulance to arrive with one. Thumbs up to Hook for taking this step.