Defibrillator Installed in Telephone Box

A lifesaving community defibrillator has been installed in a telephone box in Stafford Brook Road, Rugeley.

The telephone box, which had not been used for a number of years, is situated at the junction with Kingsley Wood Road.

Rugeley & District Community First Responders very kindly instigated the project after securing funding to the value of £2000. The installation was carried out in partnership with AEDdonate in July 2019.

Parish Councillor Dave Cotton has carried out essential maintenance work on the telephone box which has included replacement of a broken pane of glass, internal and external cleaning and preparation work for refreshing the external paintwork, to be completed in the spring.

What to do if defibrillation is needed

The defibrillator is housed in a locked yellow cabinet sited inside the unlocked telephone box.

In the event of a person suffering a sudden cardiac arrest, a telephone call should be made to the emergency services via the emergency 999 telephone number.

The operator will arrange for an ambulance to be dispatched, and in addition, advise on the location of the nearest defibrillator. They will instantly know through GPS the location of the caller.

If there is a defibrillator close by, the access code will be given so that the cabinet can be opened and equipment accessed. The defibrillator can then be removed from the cabinet (as it has its own long life battery) and be taken to the patient.

Defibrillators are straightforward to use and have built in step by step audio instructions. They are designed for effective use by people who have no medical training.

The opportunity to access and administer heart defibrillation before Community First Responders and Ambulance Service Crews arrive could be crucial to a successful outcome, and a full recovery for the patient.

Telephone box at the corner of Stafford Brook Road and Kingsley Wood Road, Rugeley