Call for more South Lanarkshire defibrillators

Life-saving...defibrillators should be provided in all schools and leisure centres, according to List MSP Jim Hume

Lib Dem list MSP Jim Hume produced his findings as he stepped up his campaign to address the shortage of defibrillators in schools and leisure facilities.

According to Jim’s research out of 125 primary and secondary schools in the county, which are also used by members of the public when schools finish, just one has such a device.

A full range of data was not available for South Lanarkshire’s many leisure centres, which are run by South Lanarkshire Leisure & Culture.

However, it was noted in Jim’s findings that out of four places in South Lanarkshire where physical activity takes place, such as separate football pitches, there was also just one defibrillator available.

Across the country, figures also showed only a fifth of secondary schools which have facilities used by the local community, such as swimming pools or gym halls, have the life-saving equipment.

Jim, who is the Lib Dem’s health spokesman, said: “Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest is the most common life-threatening emergency in Scotland.

“I was shocked to learn that only one-fifth of leisure centres and secondary schools with facilities used by the local community have this equipment.”

For more information on this story, pick up a copy of this week’s Carluke and Lanark Gazette.