Somer Valley Rotary Club officially marked the handing over of a new, potentially life-saving defibrillator in Peasedown St John last week, but have criticised the village's Parish Council for not helping with funding, despite three appeals.

The Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) has been installed outside Peasedown St John Co-op and will be available twenty-four hours a day to help anyone in need. The new defibrillators are easy to use, so that when someone dials 999, if the Ambulance Service feels it is appropriate, they will give the code to access the cabinet and the defibrillator can be taken to the patient.

The defibrillator can be used without prior training and will not shock the patient unless it is necessary. Although time is of the essence, if someone can administer CPR (Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation) then there is adequate time to fetch and use the AED. The AED is so sophisticated, that it will 'talk' the user through the procedure, even to the extent of telling you if the CPR is too quick or too slow – or not hard enough.

Somer Valley Rotary Club have now been involved in installing five AEDs, at Chilcompton, Coleford, Radstock, Midsomer Norton and, of course, Peasedown St John. The Radstock Defibrillator has been issued eight times in the two years it has been installed. The latest defibrillator cost around £2,600, with the money coming from Rotary fundraising and financial backing from local businesses.

The Rotary Club claim that with the exception of Peasedown St John, the local Parish Councils have been very supportive of the initiative, however, they say that despite applying three times to the Parish Council for funds, it declined, on the basis that one defibrillator was not enough in a village the size of Peasedown St John. Speaking this week, Mike Cosh, Chair of the Somer Valley Rotary Community Committee, said: "One defibrillator in the village is most certainly better than none, especially if you are having a heart attack. But we are hoping that with the first installed, the Parish Council might change their mind and help with a second.

"We would also like a defibrillator at the Beacon Hall. But the Parish Council argued that we could use equipment at nearby Circle Bath Hospital. However, this is not available to the general public and even if it was, would need to be used by someone who knew what they are doing, unlike the newly-installed equipment, which helps users, step by step.

Radstock Co-op have been very helpful with financial support and hosting cabinets, as were four businesses, Arleen, Michael Gould, the Red Post and Sonistics."

At St Briavels, in the Forest of Dean, the Parish Council there have arranged for free First Aid Courses, with the aim of having a trained First Aider in every street. They have been over-subscribed and each First Aider has been trained to use the AED. Although the AED can be used without training, in a stressful situation, more knowledge is always helpful. If any readers are interested in such an initiative being set up locally, please contact Mike Cosh on: 01761 433668 for more details.

Somer Valley Rotary Club meets on Tuesday evenings at The Fromeway Inn. The group aim to enjoy themselves and at the same time, raise funds for good causes. If you think you would like to join them, contact Membership Secretary, Chris James, on: 07768 778169 to arrange to attend one of the meetings.