New life-saving equipment on housing estates

We've now installed a total of six defibrillators at housing estates across the borough. These machines can save the life of someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest.

What are defibrillators?

A defibrillator gives a jolt of electrical energy to the heart. It helps get the heart beating again when someone's heart has stopped. You might also hear it being called a defib, a PAD (public access defibrillator) or an AED (automated external defibrillator).

Where are they?

The defibrillators on our housing estates are in:

• Kensal House, Ladbrook Grove, W10 5BQ
• Dixon House, Darfield way, W10 6UA
• 101-103 Holmfield House, Hazelwood Crescent, W10 5FR
• Lowerwood Court, 351 Westbourne Park Road, W11 1EU
• Trellick Tower concierge, Golborne Road, W10 5PA
• Worlds End Estate concierge, 20 Blantyre St, SW10 0DS

What do I do if someone's in cardiac arrest?

If you're with someone who appears to be in cardiac arrest, you should call 999 immediately. They will advise you to start CPR (CPR stands for cardiopulmonary resuscitation. It's when someone gives chest compressions to a person in cardiac arrest to keep them alive.)

They will let you know if there is a defibrillator in the area. Do not stop CPR to go and get a defibrillator - send someone else to go and get it.

How do I use a defibrillator?

The defibrillators we've installed are easy to use and have recorded voice instructions which will help you through every step. They are in locked boxes and the 999 operator will provide the code to open them.

Why has the Council installed these defibrillators?

We want to make sure our housing residents are as safe as possible. This means we do a lot of safety work, particularly focused on fire safety in the properties we manage, but we know there's more to safety than maintaining buildings. We bid for funding for the defibrillators from the Government's community automated external defibrillator fund. Our successful bid means these new defibrillators join the many others available throughout the borough.