A public-access defibrillator has been installed at the Hinckley Masonic Hall thanks to the generosity of the Leicestershire & Rutland Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons. The equipment, costing over £1000, has been installed on the facade of the building, which is in the centre of Hinckley, close to the Parish Church, the new Leisure Centre and the new Crescent development, all being venues which attract large numbers of the public.
This, potentially life-saving equipment, is designed to be easily operated by any member of the public without the need for training. The locked cabinet can be accessed by a member of the public for use in a medical emergency. Having telephoned 999 during such an incident and given the oprator the location concerned, the person is then given a code to allow access to the cabinet and defibrillator, thus allowing them to start the vital and potentially life-saving procedures whilst awaiting the arrival of the ambulance or paramedic. Time in such incidents is often vital in saving a life and locating these units in publicly accessible positions makes this possible. After a cardiac arrest, every minute without C.P.R. and defibrillation reduces someone's chance of survival by ten percent. The siting within the community of these publicly accessible units clearly can help help in these emergency situations.
It is the intention of the management of the Hinckley Masonic Hall to involve local businesses etc., located close to the building, with training sessions which will be organised at the hall, in order to familiarise those close by, with the equipment and basic principles involved.
