St John to fund new Public Access Defibrillators for Alderney

St John Ambulance & Rescue Service (SJARS) Guernsey reaffirms its commitment to enhancing the safety and well-being of the Alderney community through the evolution and development of Public Access Defibrillators (PAD).

With a focus on bolstering community resilience and emergency response capabilities, St John welcomes the upcoming launch of Community First Responders and the strategic placement of additional defibrillators across the island.

Alderney currently has eight strategically positioned PAD sites, instrumental in providing life-saving interventions during critical cardiac emergencies. SJARS has only been responsible for these PAD sites since April. We identified that three existing defibrillators were not in working order and these were subsequently removed from service. The remaining sites, although functional, will require replacement in the near future.

Upholding its pledge to the Alderney community, charitable donations from St John are now funding the procurement of all defibrillators and boxes, which are presently in the ordering process.

Chief Executive Officer Mark Mapp said: “This investment underscores our commitment to maintaining a reliable network of defibrillators that those in need can readily access. In addition to addressing immediate needs, St John is excited to collaborate with the Alderney community as it prepares to introduce Community First Responders. This progressive initiative will empower local individuals to provide rapid, life-saving assistance in medical emergencies until the professional ambulance service arrives. This development and the placement of new defibrillators demonstrates St John’s role as a dedicated partner in advancing the island’s emergency response infrastructure.”

As part of St John’s ongoing commitment, the PAD sites are under regular supervision and inspection by our Alderney-based team. St John Ambulance & Rescue Service remains devoted to fostering a culture of preparedness and safety within Alderney, ensuring that the island’s residents can face emergencies confidently and resiliently.

There will be future FREE training awareness events that will teach the community Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) that will be provided by our Alderney-based teams.