CHFT Charity, is pleased to announce the successful installation and activation of seven automated external defibrillators (AEDs) across Todmorden. Six of these vital pieces of equipment are publicly accessible 24/7, the seventh defibrillator is housed in Todmorden Town Hall and can be accessed whenever the Town Hall is in use.
Working closely with Todmorden Town Council, CHFT Charity has been instrumental by providing funding to install a total of seven, enhancing the accessibility and availability of these life-saving resources within the community.
The support of several local businesses and organisations has been crucial to this project. Gaynor Hallinan of the Glen View Pub, Terry Luddington of Lydgate Post Office, Angus Morritt of the Masonic Hall and Todmorden Working Men’s Social Club, Marshall O’Brien of Hollins Mill, and Jenny Coleman of Fielden Hall have kindly agreed to host the six publicly accessible defibrillators, ensuring their widespread distribution across Todmorden. Their partnership exemplifies the spirit of community cooperation and commitment to public safety.
Staffordshire-based charity AED Donate has been a vital partner in this project, providing essential support in supplying the defibrillators and coordinating their installation. With approximately 100,000 lives lost to Sudden Cardiac Arrest each year in the UK, AED Donate is dedicated to improving survival rates by facilitating the placement and use of AEDs in local communities. They assist in acquiring AEDs through fundraising or direct purchase, ensuring they are registered with the local Ambulance Trust for emergency use. The charity then offers ongoing guidance and support throughout the project.
All seven defibrillators are now listed on the Yorkshire Ambulance Service defibrillator database, as well as The Circuit, the national defibrillator network providing a comprehensive overview of defibrillator locations nationwide. Additionally, information on the defibrillator locations will be made available on the Town Council website.
Expressing her delight at the completion of the project, Emma Kovaleski, Charity Manager at Calderdale, and Huddersfield NHS Charity, stated, “The installation marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts of CHFT Charity to support the health and wellbeing of local communities. We are proud to have played a role in making these life-saving resources accessible to residents.”
The owner of Hollins Mill, Marshall O’Brien said “Since realising there wasn’t a 24/7 publicly accessible defibrillator available between Littleborough and Todmorden, a public defibrillator has been on our wish list for some time. It is a credit to the team who have worked on this project that the Yorkshire Ambulance Service have already given emergency access to two of the seven defibrillators – one being ours at Hollins Mill – saving at least one life, shows how important it is to have these machines accessible in the area. We’re grateful to Todmorden Town Council and the Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Charity for funding the installation of a defibrillator at Hollins Mill and to Assistant Town Clerk, Susan Miles, who’s guidance and assistance have been invaluable throughout the project process.”
Mayor of Todmorden, Cllr Tyler Hanley, said “While it’s rare for the Council to invest in something we hope will never be used, the potential to save lives with these defibrillators justifies every penny spent. When someone suffers an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, time is of the essence. By providing seven new defibrillator units across Todmorden, from Walsden to Eastwood to Portsmouth, we are increasing the chances of survival for anybody who suffers a sudden cardiac arrest; in just 2 weeks since their installation we have seen how the presence of our defibrillators can make the difference between life and death. I want to thank all the partners who have worked with the Town Council to get this vital project over the line. I’m immensely proud of what we have achieved together.”
