The Somer Valley Rotary Club is appealing for local people who would like to see a defibrillator installed in Peasedown St John to show their support.

The club, which has helped install defibrillators in Coleford, Chilcompton, Midsomer Norton and Radstock, is now looking at the large village of Peasedown St John, which, so far, does not have a potentially life-saving device.

If someone has a heart attack, survival depends upon rapid action in giving CPR (Cardiac Pulmonary Resuscitation) and the use of a defibrillator. Modern defibrillators are sophisticated pieces of equipment, known as AEDs (Automatic External Defibrillators). They can be used by anyone without training and apart from giving a shock to the patient, if appropriate, they will tell you if your CPR is too fast or too slow.

The AED talks to those using the device, giving verbal instructions and is housed in a heated and lit cabinet. If someone is experiencing a heart attack, you should always dial 999. If there is a nearby cabinet, the Ambulance Service will issue the code to open the unit and suggest you fetch the defibrillator, which can be used prior to the arrival of the first responder. The defibrillator will not shock unless it is necessary.

There are defibrillators at Coleford, Chilcompton, Norton Hill, Westfield, two in Midsomer Norton (at Welton Rovers and on the wall of Barons Estate Agency, opposite the Town Hall), Farrington Gurney and Writhlington. The Midsomer Norton and Norton Hill units have both been used in the last few months and the Radstock unit has been issued, but not used, five times since it was installed.

The nearest AEDs for Peasedown St John are in Radstock, Priston or Bath, all of which are too far away to be of value. The Rotary has so far raised £1,600 towards the £2,400 needed to install a device in the village.

Unfortunately, Peasedown St John Parish Council has declined to provide any funding.

The club believes Peasedown St John desperately needs this facility and would preferably like to see two in the village.

If you are an individual or business in Peasedown St John and would like to make a donation, please send a cheque payable to Somer Valley Rotary Club (Defibrillator) to M. Chivers, The Coach House, Radstock, BA3 4EB or directly to the Rotary Club of Somer Valley Trust Fund by BACS, contact the numbers below for details. If you are donating as an individual, don't forget you can increase your donation by 25% using Gift Aid.

For more information, contact Allan: 01749 840528 or Maurice: 01761 415402.