Defibrillator installed at council HQ

Pictured with new defibrillator at Scottish Borders Council HQ in Newtown St Boswells are, from left, the council's Jim Fraser, George Luke of Newtown and Eildon Community Council, Colin Baxter of the Scottish Ambulance Service, Scott Forbes of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, and Roger French of Newtown and Eildon Community Council.

Both council staff and villagers now have access to the device in the event of someone suffering cardiac arrest.

Already, 30 council employees and 20 of the HQ’s neighbours have been trained to use it by the Scottish Ambulance Service and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Jim Fraser, the council’s emergency planning officer, said: “Having this device in place will potentially save lives. We’re really pleased that council staff will have access to it in an emergency, but, crucially, local people in the community can use it too.”

Pictured with new defibrillator are, from left, Jim Fraser, George Luke of Newtown and Eildon Community Council, Colin Baxter of the Scottish Ambulance Service, Scott Forbes of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Roger French of Newtown and Eildon Community Council.

Mr Luke added: “The community council has been pursuing the possibility of a defibrillator for Newtown for some time.

“We were pleased to get together with the council and agree a suitable place for it in the village.

“Anyone can use it, and it’s great that it’s available to the whole community.”

To find out more about defibrillators, go to www.bhf.org.uk