Brafield's latest life-saving equipment funded by village funeral director

Hollowells funeral directors based in Brafield on the Green has helped to install the vital life-saving equipment in to aid anyone who experiences heart difficulties in the rural community.

The bright yellow machine is highly visible and clearly located on the front of the funeral home next to the familiar blue door.

A company spokeman said: “Hollowells value our roots in this tight and closely knit rural community, so we are very proud to have been able to provide this vital piece of potentially life saving equipment.

“Community and village life are so important to Paul and Annette, who live next to the funeral home on the Bedford Road, and when it became apparent that the local parish council were unable to get the finances together to fund a community defibrillator, Paul decided to step up.”

The life saving equipment can be called into action if an operator at the 999 or 111 call centres feels that the machine is required for a patient.

Callers will then be directed the to the box at Hollowells with the code required to unlock the box.

Easily operated with voice prompts, once the wires are attached as instructed, the machine will monitor the patient’s heart and will administer shocks automatically and only when required.

It is hoped that the machine will give the patient vital extra minutes of care that may be vital in saving their life.