New defibrillator in Milngavie thanks to '˜big hearted Boys'

Milngavie precinct launch of new defibrillator by The 1st/2nd Milngavie Company BB. Young Officer Grant Rodgers giving a demo on CPR.

The defibrillator was purchased thanks to £774 raised by the 1st/2nd Milngavie Company of the Boys’ Bridage as well as £200 from Tesco and £500 from Milngavie Community Council.

It has now been placed on M&S white wall facing the playpark in a weatherproof cabinet.

Marks and Spencer are going to supply the location and the electricity supply to the cabinet to keep the unit at a temperature where it will be ready for use all year round - even in the middle of a Scottish winter. The defibrillator will be available to the whole community and can be accessed and operated by anyone without any prior training. It is fully automated with voice prompts.

Milngavie precinct launch of new defibrillator by The 1st/2nd Milngavie Company BB. BB with staff from Tecso Milngavie and Marks and Spencer Milngavie.

Captain Allistair Fettes made a short speech explaining the Boys’ Brigade fundraising efforts and thanking all those who had given their support to enable the unit to be made available to the people of Milngavie.

Grant Rodgers gave an explanation of the heated cabinet and its contents, then demonstrated CPR and the operation of the defibrillator using a training unit.

Both Grant and the Milngavie Community First Responders gave further demonstrations and answered questions for some time afterwards.

Further demonstrations of the defibrillator will take place in the Fraser Centre on Thursday, September 8 and Friday, September 9 at 7.30pm for anyone who missed the launch.

The Boys’ Brigade have also taken a stall at the Clubs and Associations event in Milngavie Town Hall on Saturday, September 10 from 11am to 4pm.