In association with

LIVE IN A SAFER VILLAGE WITHIN THE CHEW VALLEY

In November 2007, Setter & Lee Estate Agents launched the Chew Valley Defibrillator Project. Heart-starting defibrillators, otherwise known as Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs), have been installed in weatherproof cabinets in ten locations (shops, Post Offices etc) across the Chew Valley. This is the first project of its kind in the UK where the general public have access to a defibrillator to treat Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

In an emergency, 999 is called in the normal way and the Ambulance Service provide a four-digit code to open the cabinet to enable the lightweight defibrillator to be accessed. The machine is easy to use and, using voice instruction, provides a step-by-step guide as to how it can be used to save the patient's life. The AED decides whether a shock is needed and, if so, how many shocks are to be given - for this reason no training is needed to use an AED. The facts speak for themselves - the success rate increases from 5% to 50% when a defibrillator is used. In fact SCA is so deadly that less than 5% of its victims survive out of a hospital.

At Setter & Lee Estate Agents we appreciate the problems associated living in a rural location such as the Chew Valley. Despite the best efforts of medical teams and the Emergency Services, it can sometimes be more than ten minutes before medical help arrives due to the remote location of this rural area. The fact that AEDs are now located across the Chew Valley means that fast and effective action can be taken in the event of someone suffering an SCA in the Chew Valley.

The map (below) shows the location of each defibrillator within the Chew Valley. By moving your cursor over a village name, a picture of the exact location will be displayed.

Should you wish to find out more information on the Chew Valley Defibrillator project or you wish to launch a similar scheme in your local area, please fill in the following. The form will be sent to post@setter-lee.com