Bridgwater Town Council has announced a new initiative aimed at enhancing public safety by installing 24/7 public access defibrillators in areas currently lacking these critical life-saving devices. The locations of these devices is key and Bridgwater Town Council need your help to ensure these defibrillators are placed where they are most needed. Ideal spots might include parks, social clubs, popular cycle routes, or local cafés. Councillor Liz Marsh (Labour, Victoria)  the Community spokesperson for the Town Council, said of the initiative, “Working together, we can ensure that life-saving defibrillators are accessible to all, especially in areas where they are most needed. I’d like to ask everyone to help us with identifying the best locations for these devices.”

How to get involved

Members of the public can follow these steps to get involved:

Step 1 – Find Your Nearest Defibrillator

1. Go to Defib Finder https://www.defibfinder.uk/  and enter your postcode.
2. Use the filter options to select ‘24/7’ and ‘Public’ only and tick the ‘Available Now’ box.
3. Click on the top or closest defibrillator shown. It will provide directions, distance, and walking time. If it is further than a five-minute round trip, proceed to Step 2.

Step 2 – Suggest a New Location

1. Identify a location in your community that would benefit from a new defibrillator, ensuring it is no more than a 5-minute round trip from your chosen postcode.
2. Complete and submit the form https://forms.office.com/e/AeY77H6mwM

Locations need to meet the following criteria:

• Visibility: The location must be visible 24/7.
• Accessibility: It should be situated in a public area that is always accessible.
• Height: The position should be no higher than 1 meter from the ground to ensure wheelchair accessibility.
• Electrical Connection: The location must have an electrical connection.