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A new defibrillator has been put in place in Fishergate outside the city’s Holland and Barrett store.
Funded by the Pennine Community Credit Union (PCCU) the medical equipment is the latest defib unit to be installed in Preston city centre.
Preston’s Business Improvement District (Preston BID) organised the installation of the defibrillator unit.
Read more: New defibrillators installed in Moor Park, Ashton Park and Ribbleton Park
BID’s support worker Mike Pixton said: “We are deeply grateful to PCCU for selecting Fishergate as the location for this vital defibrillator. This life-saving device not only ensures the safety of residents from the city but visitors shopping at the excellent businesses found on Fishergate, but also demonstrates the powerful impact of community collaboration in fostering a safer environment for all.”
Funding was allocated by the credit union after it allocated a portion of the dividends paid out during the past year.
PCCU’s development officer Lee Banks said: “At PCCU’s 2024 AGM we returned £900,000 in dividends to our account holders , who then voted to support the communities we provide ethical savings and loan accounts to with a £20,000 charitable donation to install defibrillators. It has been rewarding to work with partners in the community, like Preston BID, across Lancashire and Cumbria, to install life- saving equipment. As not-for-profit cooperative we only operate to benefit our members and the wider community.”
The defibrillator is registered with The Circuit a national service which connects the NHS ambulance services to the locations of the defib units.
North West Ambulance Services community resuscitation engagement officer Yvette Brown said: “Thousands of families in the UK are left devasted by cardiac arrest every year. Early use of a defibrillator with cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) can more than double a person’s chance of survival. The defibrillator is available for use when calling 999 and the closest available defibrillator will be allocated, anyone can use a defibrillator and is designed for the untrained user.”
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