THE Minehead Community Defib Group is to take on the responsibility of the potentially lifesaving defibrillator at the Community Building.

There were fears that the public access defibrillator – which can be used on people in the event of them having a suspected cardiac arrest – would be removed from Minehead Recreation Ground on September 15 as an agreement between Minehead Town Council and the South Western Ambulance Service comes to an end.

But councillors were adamant that the defibrillator could not go and so recently agreed that the council would safeguard its future.

Now the council has agreed to gift the machine to the Minehead Community Defib Group which gained charity status four years ago and has funded 20 public defibs in the Minehead and Alcombe area and trained hundreds of people in basic life support.

Town clerk Ben Parker said: “This option ensures continuity in the maintenance and care of all defibrillator units within the town.

“It was agreed at last week’s full council meeting to gift the unit to the community defib group on September 15.

“This decision offers significant benefits for our community - ensuring continuity in the maintenance and care of all defibrillator units within the town.

“The equipment will be appropriately maintained and monitored by qualified personnel, guaranteeing its readiness for future emergencies.

“This is particularly important given that the defibrillator has been used six times since its installation in 2021.”

Mr Parker added: “I want to emphasise that this transition will not affect the availability or location of the defibrillator.

“The equipment will remain in its current place, just as it is today. The only change will be in its ownership and maintenance responsibility.”

A defibrillator is a device that gives a jolt of energy to the heart. It helps get the heart beating again when someone is in cardiac arrest and their heart has stopped.  

People might also hear it being called a defib, a PAD (public access defibrillator) or an AED (automated external defibrillator).

People do not need training and once the defibrillator is turned on, it will give clear step-by-step voice instructions.