A DEFIBRILLATOR has been installed at Lumphinnans Primary School.

The local community council obtained funding from the 4Winds Trust, and its fitting at the front of the school building was deemed the best location for accessibility.

Ailsa Swankie, headteacher, told the Times: "Lumphinnans Community Council were successful in obtaining funding from the 4Winds Trust for a community defibrillator and required a safe and accessible place for this to be fitted.

"We were delighted to be able to arrange for this to be fitted to the front of the school building, beside the community entrance, where it is clearly visible, and any member of the community will be able to access it if required.

"The defibrillator has already been put to use within the community. The community council were supported by local councillors in this endeavour and are in the process of securing a second defibrillator for the village."

The community council also wanted to thank Acorn Aid for their support in sourcing the defibrillator.

The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) is a small machine which shocks a patient’s heart into restarting.

It is easy to use and is sophisticated enough to talk the user through the process, delivering a shock only when one is required.

A cardiac arrest can happen to anyone at any time and the employment of a defibrillator and CPR within the first few minutes after an arrest, while professional help is on its way, can increase the chances of a patient’s survival by up to 70 per cent.