A PROJECT to place a defibrillator at every pharmacy in Wales has been launched in Blaenau Ffestiniog.

Welsh Hearts Calonnau Cymru visited Moelwyn Pharmacy in the town on Monday to launch the project. Moelwyn Pharmacy was the very first place to apply to house a new defibrillator, and has begun fund-raising.

Nick Aitken, the north Wales business and fund-raising manager for Welsh Hearts, said: “We need more defibrillators in our communities, and pharmacies are often on high streets and have staff that are already trained.

“The best chance of survival is to shock a patient within the first three minutes of them stopping breathing, and this new project will help the public know where the machines are.”

Moelwyn Pharmacy superintendent Naeem Anjam said: “Nick came to talk to us at recent pharmacy conference in Conwy and the statistics are frightening.

“When I got back in to Blaenau Ffestiniog I checked to see if there were any defibrillators nearby.

“If there was a sudden cardiac arrest near our shop, we could definitely not deliver a lifesaving shock within three minutes. We are very grateful to Welsh Hearts for their support and expertise helping us make this happen.”

Moelwyn Pharmacy staff have started fund-raising for the defibrillator with the first event planned for Saturday, 12 May at Blaenau Ffestiniog Rugby Club.

Mr Aitken added: “There is a perception that training is required to use a defibrillator, this is not the case, the machines are designed for members of the public to use and no harm will be caused as they will not work unless the patient’s heart has gone into VF (Ventricular Fibrillation) where the heart loses it rhythm, commonly known as a cardiac arrest.”

He added that “expressions of interest” in the scheme have been received from several pharmacies.

For more information on the project, or to get involved as a volunteer with Welsh Hearts, contact Mr Aitken on 01388 301562 or via email at [email protected]

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