Tenants join Balornock butcher in call for more defibrillators

Tenants in a community in the north east of Glasgow have called for more people to learn how to save a life.

tenants join Balornock butcher Donnie Shaw in calling for more defibrillators

Margaret McQuade and Maggie Nelson joined local butcher Donnie Shaw in Balornock to urge more people to learn how to use a defibrillator.

Donnie, of Shaw the Butcher on Wallacewell Road, has a defibrillator outside his shop dedicated to a local teenager, Marc Hegarty, who died of a heart attack.

A defibrillator is a life-saving piece of equipment which applies an electric current to help get the heart going.

It can save the life of someone who has had a heart attack.

Donnie said: “We did a lot of fundraising for the defibrillator and the community really rallied round.

“All our staff have been trained in using it.

“I’ve had to use it once – but thankfully the man regained consciousness.

“It’s a really important. People are delighted it’s there.”

GHA committee member, Maggie Nelson, from Barmulloch, has been a volunteer first aider for 40 years.

She said: “I would love to see more defibrillators in community centres, schools and other places.

“Anyone from a toddler to a 90-year-old can use one. It’s really easy to learn – and it’s so important.

“I’ve even been teaching my great grandchildren to use one.”

Tenant Margaret McQuade added: “Defibrillators save lives. It is such a vital piece of equipment.

“It’s great that this shop has one and it’s there for the public to use in an emergency.”

To learn how to use a defibrillator, people can contact the British Red Cross on 0844 871 8000 or by emailing firstaidtraining@redcross.org.uk

St Andrew’s First Aid can also be contacted on 0141 332 4031or by emailing info@firstaid.org.uk

Maggie Nelson and Margaret McQuade are pictured with butcher Donnie Shaw and the defibrillator outside his shop in Balornock.

Monday, April 08, 2019