New life-saving device unveiled in Chesterfield

The life-saving piece of kit is located on the outside of the St John Ambulance building on Derby Road.

It has been registered with the NHS so anyone calling 999 to report a cardiac arrest will be directed to it if it is the nearest in the area.

Defibrillators can dramatically improve the chances of survival if deployed alongside cardiopulmonary resuscitation in the critical first minutes after someone has had a cardiac arrest.

The equipment can be used by anyone as the defibrillator talks the user through each step.

The defibrillator was fundraised for by two St John Ambulance units in the area - the Staveley Works unit and Walton unit.

First aider Sam Nix, who has been a volunteer with both units, said: "On March 30 last year I was given the go-ahead to start raising money for this defibrillator and it is great, although a complete coincidence, to see it unveiled exactly a year later.

"The necessary money was raised via a variety of different events including a Tesco collection, open days, fun days, sales of tickets and other donations.

"We're all really proud that this new defibrillator will be available to local people in Chesterfield."

Visit www.sja.org.uk for more information about St John Ambulance.