NEW life-saving defibrillators have been installed at every railway station in Barnsley.
The scheme was partly funded by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and has seen a total of 36 new defibrillators installed across the county.
Each piece of equipment has step-by-step, spoken word instructions built-in to it which explain how to use it on someone in an emergency.
Computers inside the defibrillators work to analyse a person’s heart rhythms to find out if an electric shock is needed. Electrodes then automatically deliver the shock if required.
All of the life-saving units have been added to the national register and training will be offered by the local ambulance service to station staff along with local communities.
Tony Baxter, regional director at Northern, said: “All our defibrillators are in public places, and they are of huge benefit, not only to those travelling with us, but also the communities we serve.
“We plan to continue to introduce life-saving defibrillators at even more of our stations.
“I would like to thank SYMCA for their help in making this happen.”
The equipment is now available for residents to use in an emergency at ten new stations.
More than 100 defibrillators were installed across the north of England last year, including at Barnsley, Bolton-upon-Dearne, Wombwell, Thurnscoe, Goldthorpe, Dodworth, Silkstone Common, Darton, Elsecar and Penistone stations.
John Dowie, interim executive director of infrastructure and place at SYMCA said: “We welcome the latest installations as it means that now there’s a defibrillator in or nearby every rail station in South Yorkshire.
“Having them available on public spaces used daily by a large number of people is reassuring as it significantly increases the chance of survival following a cardiac arrest.”
