NEW lifesaving defibrillators have been installed in two Meirionnydd villages.

The defibrillators have been placed at Y Canolfan, Llwyngwril and Fairbourne News and Post Office.

Training in basic CPR and use of these defibrillators has been organised by Fairbourne First Responders.

Nick Aitken of Welsh Hearts will be coming to the community to offer simple lifesaving training to any locals who wish to attend.

The venues for this training are: Y Canolfan, Llwyngwril on Monday, 31 July, between 2pm and 4pm and again between 6pm and 7pm and Fairbourne Village Hall on Tuesday, 1 August, between 2pm and 4pm and again between 6pm and 7pm.

Medical training is not needed to use a defibrillator and people are surprised at how much easier it is to use one than expected.

A sudden cardiac arrest has only about five per cent chance of survival without treatment but this rises to as high as 60 per cent with early resuscitation.

Fairbourne Community First Responders have supplied these two Public Access Defibrillators together with replacing two of the team’s ageing defibrillators with the tremendous assistance of a grant of £4,650 from the Big Lottery Fund. The team’s third ageing defibrillator has been replaced thanks to a huge donation of £777 received from Helen Clarke of Talybont in memory of her daughter Mandy.

All residents are invited to attend either of these short sessions which could result in many lives being saved in the community.