WOMBOURNE BUTCHER SWAPS CHOPPING TO SHOCKING

Locals in a South Staffordshire village are in safe hands after a defibrillator took up residence at a butcher’s this week.

Thanks to partnership working between West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS), Treble9 Community First Responders (CFRs) and a local business, Wombourne has a life-saving piece of kit on hand 24 hours a day seven days a week together with people trained in basic life support.

Boxleys Butchers on Windmill Bank is now home to a public access defibrillator (PAD); a device used to restart someone’s heart when they’ve suffered a cardiac arrest. The defibrillator, located in a yellow box on the wall of the butchers, is secure but publicly accessible in the event of an emergency.

On Wednesday, WMAS officially handed over the defibrillator. Adrian Jackson, co-owner of Boxleys Butchers, said: “We’re privileged to participate in this venture on behalf of the village. We’ve had lots of customers asking what the yellow box is on the wall outside and we’ve been explaining it to them as well as handing out leaflets to raise awareness about the defibrillator.

“You really don’t know when you’ll need to know how to save a life and the defibrillator is there just in case. We hope it’s never used in reality but if it saves just one life it’s worthwhile.”

Kevin Wright, Treble 9 CFR, saves lives in South Staffordshire and the Black Country in his spare time. Kevin approached Boxleys as it was an ideal location for the defibrillator in Wombourne. Kevin said: “We are grateful to Adrian and Mark [Brookes] at Boxleys for their support and community spirit in allowing us to site the defibrillator on their premises.

“If you want to find out more about the defibrillator at Boxleys and how to save a life, come along to the Community Centre, Church Road, Wombourne on 9^th February between 9.00am – 1.30pm. We’ll be there to give locals the opportunity to get hands-on with the defibrillator to learn how to save a life!”

Emma Wilkins, the Trust’s Black Country Community Response Manager, said: “This is great news for locals and something to be really proud of. There’s real overwhelming support from Boxleys to the community of Wombourne. It’s fantastic that the defibrillator is in a central point and one that everyone knows who live in and around Wombourne.

“If someone suffers a cardiac arrest in the village residents and shop owners know to call 999 and head to Boxleys for a defibrillator. This will undoubtedly give a patient the best chance of surviving whilst an ambulance is on route.”