Newry, Mourne and Down District Council: Provision of Defibrillators

Overview

Council’s purpose in providing financial assistance is to allow it to achieve its objectives in line with clearly identified local needs and within the parameters of Council’s powers. Council will seek to ensure that any funding provided is:

• In line with Council’s Corporate Strategy and other key strategic and policy documents.
• Consistent with Council’s Financial Assistance Policy.
• In line with the specific requirements of the programme being applied for.
• Able to meet a clearly identified need.
• Likely to be used in an effective and efficient manner and to demonstrate value for money.

Funding will only be provided to organisations or individuals who have adequate skill and expertise and can ensure that Council’s funding is used appropriately.

Provision of Defibrillators Criteria

Provision of Defibrillators projects must complement the programme aims and objectives as outlined below.

The Council will only consider one application per organisation for the Provision of Defibrillators programme.

Threshold: £500 - £1,500

All Project activity MUST be completed by 31 December 2024.

Aim:

The aim of this project is to widen the provision and availability of defibrillators across our District.

Objectives:

During a cardiac arrest every second counts and Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs) are a vital tool in the chain of survival alongside early access to emergency services via a 999 call and early CPR. Currently only one in ten people survive a cardiac arrest outside of hospital, it is hoped that by facilitating the increased provision of defibrillators across the region we can improve these survival odds.

The objectives of this theme is to facilitate:

• The provision of new defibrillators across our District.
• To enable organisations who may already have a defibrillator to provide an external case to allow public access 24 hours a day.

If you are considering applying for a defibrillator some things you should consider are:

• Where other defibrillators are located in your area and their availability, particularly outside office hours. Ideally a defibrillator should be within 500m (urban areas) or 1 mile (rural areas) of an incident.
• The age (middle-aged and older people are more at risk of sudden cardiac arrest) and volume of people passing through a building or area.
• High exertion activity occurs e.g. sports
• Are people within the location willing to be trained in its use? Defibrillators can be used by lay people, but more often than not they are used by someone with basic training.
• Where you would place a defibrillator as this determines, type of defibrillator, storage case required and accessibility. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service can offer advice on this and the various aspects of defibrillators; further information can be downloaded here.

Please note:

• Successful groups will be required to register the device on ‘The Circuit’ so Northern Ireland Ambulance Service may provide direction when required. The Circuit will also help you look after and maintain your defibrillator.
• Appropriate approvals and permissions must be in place for the installation of the defibrillator in the location stated in the application.
• For a defibrillator to be emergency ready tuff cut scissors, latex free disposable gloves, paper towel(s), face shield and a disposable razor should also be provided in the kit.

Eligible Expenditure:

• New devices
• New cases
• Any required installation of the equipment.