New defibrillator installed in Nayland as part of lifesaving community effort

A new public access defibrillator has been installed in Nayland, thanks to a collaboration between the Nayland and Wissington Community Council, the Parish Council, and local volunteers — just in time for this year’s Restart a Heart Day campaign. The device is the third to be placed in the parish, helping to extend lifesaving coverage to more rural areas where every minute counts in a cardiac emergency.

Adam Lunn, Team Leader of Nayland Community First Responders, said:

“As a lifesaving charity based in Nayland, we are passionate about public access defibrillators, so when we were approached by the Nayland and Wissington Community Council for advice on where to place their third defibrillator, we were glad to help.

“We enjoy a close relationship with our local community. Not only do our volunteers respond to emergencies in Nayland, but we’re also supported by the Nayland and Wissington Community Council in delivering basic life support sessions – teaching residents how to use defibrillators and perform CPR.”

The installation supports with the national Restart a Heart Day campaign, which aims to raise awareness of cardiac arrest and empower more people to act confidently in an emergency.

Held annually on 16 October, Restart a Heart Day is a UK-wide initiative led by the Resuscitation Council UK focused on increasing survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests through CPR and defibrillator training.

Rachel Hitchcock, Chair of the Nayland with Wissington Community Council, added:

“We’re delighted to have been able to come together to provide a third public access defibrillator for the parish. We know that minutes matter when it comes to accessing lifesaving equipment, and it’s vital that residents can reach an AED quickly and use it with confidence.

“We’re hugely grateful to our local first responders, who are running regular training sessions to build awareness and confidence across the community. We’re lucky to have such a proactive and supportive group of volunteers providing this essential service.”

The new defibrillator is now live and available for public use in emergencies. Community training sessions are ongoing and open to all residents.

As part of the East of England Ambulance Service’s Restart a Heart campaign, the Nayland Community First Responders are holding two free CPR training sessions later this month in Nayland Village Hall.

The sessions will be held from 9.30am-12pm on Sunday 12 October and 6pm-8pm on Wednesday 15 October from 6pm to 8pm. Residents can book their place via Eventbrite and everyone is encouraged to attend and gain the confidence to act in a cardiac emergency.