Defibrillator at Rochdale Judo Club is back up and running for public use

Chairman of Rochdale Judo Club, Warren Schofield 7th Dan, proudly demonstrates the open cabinet

The public access defibrillator is now once more up and running at Rochdale Judo Club, on Trafalgar Street, after being inaccessible for some time because the old cabinet lock had become inoperable.

The defibrillator was the first public access defibrillators in Rochdale when it was commissioned some six years ago.
 

Read more: Rochdale Judo Club public access defibrillator official launchPublished: 18 July 2015

A defibrillator gives a high energy electric shock to the heart of someone who is in cardiac arrest and it's an essential part in trying to save their life.

To help someone who is in cardiac arrest effectively, a defibrillator needs to be found as quickly as possible. For every minute it takes for the defibrillator to reach someone and deliver a shock, their chances of survival reduce by up to 10%.

Due to the issue with the lock, the whole cabinet needed replacing in order to bring it back into use.

Robert Newman, of CCM Carter Collins and Myer accountants volunteered to sponsor the replacement defibrillator cabinet to the value of £520 in order to make the defibrilator available to the community again in a emergency.

Eddie Thomas, of Rochdale Judo Club, said: “Both Rochdale Judo Club and our sister club, Rochdale Warriors Karate Club, are thrilled not only to have this valuable resource available to us within the club again, but we're also proud that the defibrillator is available 24/7 to the residents from our local community.

“The defibrillator is now under the control of the North West Ambulance Service and therefore raises the health and safety profile for anyone who calls 999 seeking urgent medical assistance.”

Access to the defibrillator is provided through a code given after dialling 999. The box it is kept in is also maintained at a constant temperature so that the batteries stay charged should it be required.

A loud siren will sound to draw attention to any unauthorised access to the cabinet.