A new defibrillator was installed in Crickhowell this summer thanks to Crickhowell Rotary Club.

In conjunction with Crickhowell Volunteer Bureau, a new Automated External Defibrillator (AED) was commissioned by the Club and installed outside Crickhowell Police Station.

Crickhowell Volunteer Bureau has purchased and maintains 12 defibrillators through their youth-led HI-Society Project, which has been successfully running for the past eight years. The 12 units are located around Crickhowell and its surrounding villages.

The project is ongoing and further defibrillators will continue to be fundraised for and purchased by the young volunteers for the community.

Kerry Crosfield of Crickhowell Volunteer Bureau said: “An AED is an easy-to-operate portable unit and prompt use of an AED could save their life.”

Hywel Bevan of Crickhowell Rotary Club said: “Given the more remote locations of A&E departments and pressures on emergency and NHS services generally, the availability of more such equipment in our communities is vital.”

Crickhowell Rotary’s Geoff Davies added: “This is a prime example of the positive effect the Club’s Duck Race fundraising event has on the health of our community.”

An AED is a life-saving device that can help save the life of someone experiencing a sudden cardiac arrest.

Current survival rates from cardiac arrest in the UK is six per cent without defibrillation and the chance of survival diminishes with every minute of delay. If defibrillation is achieved quickly even after four minutes the casualty’s chances of recovery is improved by over 50 per cent.