A lifesaving defibrillator has been installed outside of the House of Manannan, thanks to joint working between Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation and Manx National Heritage, the charity responsible for the Isle of Man’s natural and cultural heritage.
The defibrillator, which delivers an electric current to restart the heart when someone is in cardiac arrest, has been placed in a prominent position adjacent to the main entrance of the House of Manannan building, and is available for community use.
Anyone who needs to access the defibrillator in an emergency should call 999. The operator will give them a code to open the box and guidance on how to use the machine. The device is designed to be used by someone with no medical training, with an in-built speaker giving simple step-by-step instructions to operate.
Steve Jackson, Site Supervisor for the House of Manannan said:
“We feel honoured to be presented with this life saving piece of equipment and welcome the entire community to familiarise themselves with its location outside the main entrance to the House of Manannan building”.
Paul Healey, Chairman of Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation said:
“Defibrillators are safe and simple to use and give people who suffer a cardiac arrest a chance of life. Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation have a growing network of the machines installed across the Island and it is great to see Manx National Heritage providing venues for the equipment to help save lives”.
Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation is an established Manx Charity, which was originally set up by the Lunt Family in memory of their 25 year old son, Craig, a popular young footballer who tragically died in 2005 from an undiagnosed heart defect. The focus of the charity’s work is to raise funds to enable heart screenings for men and women aged between 14 and 35 in the Isle of Man in order to detect possible symptoms of Hypertrophic and Dilated Cardiomyopathy, helping prevent Sudden Death Syndrome. The Foundation also provides lifesaving defibrillator machines at schools, sports clubs, businesses and public places.
ENDS
Image caption (left to right): Steve Jackson, Site Supervisor at the House of Manannan, pictured with Paul Healey of Craig’s Heartstrong Foundation at the unveiling of the new defibrillator at the House of Manannan