COLWYN Bay’s St John Ambulance has received a £1,000 grant for a defibrillator.

Thanks to the grant, from Colwyn Bay town council, the ambulance, which is used at events across the area, is now equipped with two brand new lifesaving defibrillators, replacing its older equipment.

The defibrillators will be used to help in life threatening situations not just at community events but at events such as Wales Rally GB, Rhyl Air Show and Llandudno Extravaganza as well as other high-profile occasions across North Wales.

An automated external defibrillator (AED) is a piece of equipment used to help restart the heart when it stops, a cardiac arrest. The device is placed on the chest of someone who is not breathing and a shock is administered in the hope of giving someone the best chance of survival.

Mike Evans, Divisional Officer in Charge of St John Cymru Colwyn Bay said: “Our ambulance is now properly equipped to help those who need it most across our community. We can’t thank the council enough for their support,” he added.

The grant has also allowed the volunteers of to purchase a new training defibrillator which will allow them to teach schools and the local community how to use the device correctly in an emergencies. To celebrate, the group will host free community training sessions throughout the year with the new device to help inform the community about the difference a defibrillator can make.

Mike added: “Our community training sessions are a free to members of the community to learn more about first aid and how they can make a difference in an emergency.

“The addition of our training defibrillator will ensure we can now help towards breaking the stigma surrounding defibrillators by allowing people to practise with one. It also allows us to demonstrate the correct way to use one of these potentially lifesaving devices.”

For more information about Wales’ leading first aid charity, St John Cymru and to register your free place on the next Defibrillator Awareness session on 20th May or if you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, more information is available at: www.stjohn.wales or by calling 0345 6785 646.