Signs for defibrillator torn down

Defibrillator sign

Signs informing people that there is a public access defibrillator at Rochdale Judo Club have been torn down, hours after they were put up.

Following tireless fundraising from Rochdale Judo Club for the defibrillator, everything went live on Tuesday (7 July).

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/96130/rochdale-judo-club-raising-money-for-public-access-defibrillator

A number of signs were then put up in the local area to inform people that the defibrillator was there.

Rod Cape, from Rochdale Judo Club, said: “By 9pm on Tuesday night, one of the signs had been torn down and vandalised for no reason. It is such a shame that someone in the local community decided to do that.”

Rochdale Judo Club recently raised £1,700 for the defibrillator and a secure cabinet to keep the defibrillator in.

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/news-headlines/96215/rochdale-judo-club-uchikomiathon-raises-money-for-a-secure-cabinet-for-a-public-access-defibrillator

On Tuesday, the defibrillator went live on 999, meaning that from now on, if anyone rings the ambulance service and requires a defibrillator, the ambulance service can direct people to it and give them a code to access the defibrillator.

Rod added: “The signs cost money as well and we can’t afford to keep replacing them. They were put up to let people know that this defibrillator is now there. I don’t think people realise that by taking down these sings, they could potentially be stopping someone from saving a life.”

Rod is now asking that the local community take pride in what they have in the area.

“We just want the local community to take pride in what they have more than anything and come together to create a civic pride in what they have,” added Rod.