Local businesses purchase defibrillator for Winckley Square

A life-saving piece of equipment has been introduced to one of Preston’s main public spaces after 12 local businesses pitched in to share the cost.

The defibrillator has been installed in the porch of local law firm, Harrison Drury, based at 25b Winckley Square and will be accessible to the public between 8am and 6pm weekdays.

The unit is designed especially for use in public areas and can be used on adults and children who are in cardiac arrest. The automated system can be used by untrained personnel as instructions are given as soon as the box is opened.

The use of a public access defibrillator can increase a person’s survival rate from 5 per cent to 70 per cent, if used within the first few minutes of cardiac arrest.

The local businesses, who all have offices in Winckley Square, are Harrison Drury, Brabners, Freshfield, Blue Wren, Eckersley, Handlesbanken, MHA Moore and Smalley, Pascoe Engineering, Begbies Traynor, Anderton Gables, No 15 Winckley Square Chambers and Farleys.

Kate Aspinall, operations administrator at Harrison Drury, led on the defibrillator project, she said: “Winckley Square is at the heart of the Preston business community. We have hundreds of people in the area on any one day and the safety of our community is paramount. We are really grateful to everyone involved.

“The defibrillator is a very welcome addition to the square. Increasing the number of these machines in public areas will increase someone’s chance of living while waiting for paramedics. Hopefully we will never have the need to use it but knowing that it’s available is reassuring.”