LIFE-SAVING equipment is being made available to rural communities across East Anglia, thanks to the Co-operative Society.

The East of England Co-operative Society is the first retailer in the UK to support the provision of 24 hour access to a defibrillator providing a potentially life-saving service to rural communities across the region.

Working with the East of England Ambulance Service, 100 defibrillation machines will be placed in prominent community locations, including a number of society branches in carefully targeted areas.

It is estimated that someone has a heart attack every two minutes in the UK and a third of those who suffer a fatal heart attack die before they can be taken to hospital.

This makes it crucial that those in harder to reach rural communities have access to the equipment, which if applied in the first four minutes of collapse will provide the best chance of survival.

Roger Grosvenor Executive Officer – Retail, East of England Co-operative Society said, "We are delighted to be working with the East of England Ambulance Service to provide this potentially life-saving service to the rural communities we serve

"In many instances our stores are the only one in the village, and so a land mark which will make it easier to find the equipment.

"This will be of enormous benefit in helping to preserve life, especially in rural communities which are harder to reach by ambulance during the critical first four minutes."

When a call is made to the emergency services, if there is more than one person with the casualty, the caller will be directed to the nearest defibrillator.

An access code and guidance will be given over the phone by the 999 operator on how to use the equipment.

Dr Pamela Chrispin, Medical Director for the East of England Ambulance NHS Trust, said: "For patients whose heart has stopped, a defibrillator is the definitive treatment and as every second counts when you are trying to save someone's life, having access to one quickly can make so much difference.

"This project will increase the number of defibrillators within communities across the region, enabling more patients to receive life-saving help with the support of the ambulance service."

The scheme was launched earlier this year at Ipswich Town Football Club, to an audience of charities and organisations which the society has helped to support over the past year.

The launch, led by John Pendle – President of the Board of Directors for the East of England Co-operative, included a demonstration from Lorna Hayes, Regional CPM Lead (Interim), for the East of England Ambulance Service, on how the defibrillators work.

Tim Newcomb, Assistant Chief Constable for the Suffolk Constabulary, adds: "Police officers are often the first people on the scene at emergency calls and have first-hand experience of providing life-saving treatment.

"Having machines more readily available in our smaller, harder to reach villages will be a direct benefit for our officers trying to save people's lives."

The project also has support of a number of the region's MPs.

Simon Wright MP for Norwich South said: "I am excited to hear of the new initiative the Co-op is launching. It is great to see a retailer providing a service not only to its members and customers, but a service which is available to all members of the community."

Colchester MP Sir Bob Russell, who is Chairman of the All-Party Parliamentary First Aid Group, said: "This scheme will be of real benefit to our communities.

"The extra minutes these machines offer patients could prove vital and this partnership shows what can be achieved when organisations come together to enhance the towns and villages in which they operate."