Lucky2BHere defibrillator

Comhairle receives defibrillator from Lucky2BHere charity

23 May 2016

Comhairle staff participate in CPR and defibrillator training

Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has received a defibrillator from the Lucky2BHere charity. The device is to be located at the main reception of the Stornoway council offices.

Lucky2BHere supplies lifesaving defibrillators and trains users in emergency life support.

The fundraising initiative was set up in 2009 by Ross Cowie of Portree, following his survival from a sudden cardiac arrest. His life was saved only by the quick response and the skills of the crew on a passing ambulance.

To help the people who helped him, Ross set up Lucky2BHere to raise funds to help reduce response times, particularly in rural areas and hopefully to save more lives.

The device was presented by councillor Angus Morrison, a volunteer trainer and local co-ordinator for the group. Cllr Morrison, who himself suffered a heart attack in January 2014 is well aware of the importance of timeous intervention and would like to see these units in every community in the Western Isles.

Mr Morrison said: “After recovering from my own heart attack, I had a discussion with paramedic, Roddy MacDonald to discuss opportunities on how to raise awareness of emergency lifesaving equipment in the event of a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest. We decided to contact Lucky2BHere to ascertain how best to provide defibrillators and training in communities throughout the Western Isles."

Demand for these life-saving pieces of equipment has increased so much over the last couple of months that a local team of Lucky2BHere Eilean Siar has been set up led by Roddy MacDonald and cllr Morrison.

In the last couple of weeks the team have been busy supplying defibrillators and training in Leverburgh, Tarbert, North Tolsta, Grimshader and now at Comhairle nan Eilean Siar offices in Stornoway.

Over the coming months training courses will take place in various locations throughout the Western Isles.

Lucky2BHere relies completely on fundraising and donations.