Treharris Fire Station Install New Defibrillator for the Local Community

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service’s Treharris Fire Station have recently had a new defibrillator installed for the local community. The defibrillator which is a joint initiative in conjunction with the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust (WAST) and Treharris’ local councillor, Gareth Richards, has been attached to the exterior wall of the Station and is accessible to everyone in the surrounding community.

Until now, those in the Treharris community only had access to one defibrillator which is situated within their local sport centre, yet the unit is only available during limited opening times. Taking this into account Station Manager Tim Davies and Station Commander Chris Evans secured two defibrillator units from WAST, one to be kept at Treharris Station and the second to be situated at Merthyr.

Chris Evans, Station Commander, SWFRS commented: ‘We are extremely grateful to WAST and the local Councillor Richards for their support on accessing the units. We will endeavour to provide and support for our local community as best we can.’

Group manager Nigel Williams RCT & Merthyr, stated ‘ This is just another example of our commanders working to reduce risk within their communities. This an excellent initiative between SWF&RS/WAST and the local councillor, that could well save lives. Well done.

Ian Izatt, Learning and Development Manager with the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust said: “It is always a great pleasure to work with our colleagues in the Fire and Rescue Services to enhance the safety and wellbeing of our communities.

“Bringing a second Public Access Defibrillator to the Treharris area will boost survival rates from cardiac arrest and potentially allow the chain of survival to be started sooner.

“We know from research that for every minute that passes without defibrillation in cardiac arrest, a patient’s chance of survival reduces by 10%.

“Public access defibrillators are easy to use and can be used by anybody to save a life.”