And a local nurse has decided to run the London Marathon in April – her first attempt at the distance – in order to raise funds to provide more in the area.
Nicki Pointer, a volunteer with Crowborough Community First Responders [CCFR], said: “These units cost about £1,500 each, so I entered the ballot for the London Marathon as a way of fundraising to help purchase more defibrillators.
“To my surprise, I was accepted. It’s a daunting prospect because I’ve not run a marathon before, but I’m certainly up for the challenge and training hard.”
The cardiac equipment has been located at Fieldbuss Newsagents in London Road, close to the Cross.
Ms Pointer, who is a ward manager in gynaecology and early pregnancy at Tunbridge Wells Hospital, said: “The defibrillator is accessible to the general public on a 999 call, so it’s there for anyone to use in an emergency.
“In time, we hope that no home in Crowborough will be more than 400 metres from a defibrillator.”
Nicki’s CCFR colleague Leigh Westwood said: “There are no defibrillators on the north side of the Cross, so we’re delighted we could install one at Fieldbuss, which itself has been at the heart of the community for many, many years.”
He added: “Reducing response time is key to saving lives, and we now have eight defibrillators across Crowborough, of which seven have seen active use.”
For more information about volunteering for Crowborough Community First Responders, and to support Nicki in her fundraising, visit crowborough-cfr.co.uk
