First aiders at the five leisure centres managed by Huntingdonshire District Council now have an extra piece of equipment each to use in an emergency.

Defibrillators are to be placed in the five centres and at Hinchingbrooke Country Park, thanks to a joint initiative involving the council, the St Ives branch of the British Heart Foundation, and Hinchingbrooke Hospital.

The local BHF branch made a substantial contribution towards the cost of the equipment, while the hospital staff provided training so that the district council’s leisure centre and countryside services first aiders will be able to use the defibrillators should anyone suffer a cardiac arrest while in the leisure centres at Ramsey, Sawtry, St Ives, Huntingdon and St Neots or Hinchingbrooke Country Park.

The defibrillators were formally handed over at a presentation ceremony at St Ivo Leisure Centre on Monday 30 January 2006.

Councillor Mrs Jean Chandler, executive councillor for leisure, and chairman of the St Ives BHF, said: “ I am delighted our local branch was able to help provide these vital pieces of equipment which can save lives.”

Councillor John Davies, chairman of the district council’s safety advisory group, said: “This is an excellent example of groups working together for the benefit of our community. I am most grateful to the British heart Foundation and Hinchingbrooke Hospital for the part each has played in enabling these machines to be placed in our leisure centres and at our country park.”

Dr Anthony Brooks, Consultant in Anaesthetics at Hinchingbrooke Hospital, said: “We commend the district council for wanting to provide defibrillators in locations that are visited by a great many members of the public, and where a risk exists that someone may become ill. We were pleased to be able to provide the training to enable staff to use these machines with confidence should the need arise.”