Ulster Unionist Party (UUP) candidate Alan Barr has highlighted the need for a defibrillator to be placed in Clough village.
Alan said:
"Although there is a defibrillator located at the playing fields on Cloughwater Road, if someone needs it in Clough village, there is a return journey time of up to eight minutes.
"Time is critical when someone suffers from a cardiac arrest. The quicker CPR and defibrillation are started, the higher the chances of survival. For every minute that someone is in cardiac arrest without receiving CPR and having a defibrillator used on them, their chance of survival decreases by 10%.
"Therefore, in the case of Clough, given the distance to the nearest defibrillator, someone’s chances of survival are decreased by approximately 80%".
To address this issue, Alan is currently liaising with Clough Community Association regarding the possibility of applying for a defibrillator under Mid and East Antrim Borough Council’s Equipment Grant Scheme.
Alan added: "Defibrillators are easy to use and although training is helpful, it’s not essential, because once the defibrillator is open, all someone has to do is follow the spoken instructions."
Defibrillators are located in many locations throughout the Borough. The following webpage locates the nearest defibrillator in your area:
Always remember to call 999 in an emergency.