A medical emergency can strike anyone, anywhere at any time, and Progressive Enterprises, which operates Woolworths supermarket in Dargaville, has joined with the Kaipara Community Health Trust and Dargaville’s Pono Lodge to provide a defibrillator to be housed in the Dargaville store.

“This project has seen community defribrillators now located across the Kaipara including Pouto, the Dargaville Musuem, and of course, Dargaville Fire Brigade, while the Kellys Bay community is currently in the process of fundraising for one,” said KCHT CEO, Debbie Evans.

“Fundraising is also now underway by the trust to purchase a defib for the prime doctor, who is dispatched by the ambulance communications centre to respond to medical emergencies to support local ambulance crews or care for patients prior to the ambulance getting there.”

“The defibrillator to be used by the prime doctor is a superior piece of equipment and costs approximately $5,000,” said Ms Evans.

Any donations to help purchase this defibrillator can be sent to Debbie Evans, KCHT, PO Box 363, Dargaville.

Acting District Operations Manager for St John, Mark Going, says: “If someone has a cardiac arrest in front of you, the most important thing is for bystanders to start CPR and call the ambulance immediately. Early defribrillation is the next most important step.”