Defibrillators at two local supermarkets

LIFE-saving defibrillators are now located outside Eurospar in Dunmanway and Skibbereen.

It's part of a new community initiative called Defibrillator at every Eurospar supermarket, and is designed to save lives. 

 RTÉ's Michael Lyster recently launched the initiative. Having suffered a cardiac arrest in 2015 and having being resuscitated by the National Ambulance Service using a defibrillator, he fully understands the importance of publically accessible defibrillators in our communities. 

He said: ‘Having a defibrillator in a public space raises the profile of heart disease and ensures that people know where to find one when an emergency occurs. I look forward to the day when each Eurospar has a defibrillator in place.'

When a heart stops beating from cardiac arrest every second counts. The chances of recovery are reduced by 7-10% after each 60 seconds. Effective CPR, coupled with the use of a defibrillator within the first three to five minutes of cardiac arrest can produce survival rates of 49%-75%.

The initiative will raise funds for the installation of a publically accessible, automatic external defibrillator (AED) to be located outside of all Eurospar supermarkets. Funds will be raised through in-store collections as well as community fund-raising activities.