Roundhay Park finally gets life-saving defibrillator

Roundhay Park is the latest venue in the city to get a defibrillator following a campaign led by the Friends of Roundhay Park group.

The group joined forces with Leeds City Council, Leeds Rowing Club and White Rose Canoe Club - both of whom practice at Waterloo Lake in the Park, the National Centre for Race Walkers and Roundhay Runners.

Roundhay's parkrun branch also joined the campaign, as having hundreds of runners each week meant the Park was in particular need of a defibrillator.

Organisers of the event are already in possession of a portable device

Defibrillators work by channelling a high energy electric shock into the heart of a person in cardiac arrest, which is an essential aspect of saving someone's life.

John Hussey, member of Friends of Roundhay Park and local parkrun runner, said the group had been keen to have one installed for the past two years.

He said: "A couple of years ago Roundhay parkrun became aware of the potential benefits of having a defibrillator (AED – Automatic External Defibrillator) available at parkruns.

"Funds were raised to buy a portable device, but whilst this unit was available for an hour on Saturday and Sunday mornings when parkrun was taking place it stayed at someone’s house for the rest of the time."

The device has been installed on railings next to the front entrance of the Lakeside Café.

John added: "We soon realised we needed a permanent defibrillator situated permanently in the park.

"And so we launched a campaign to get one. We began with discussions with the Park Management who were incredibly supportive and several locations were investigated. It wasn’t long before other sporting groups who used the park joined us and it became a real community driven campaign.

"The final result is that we have a bright yellow box mounted on the railings at the front entrance to Lakeside Cafe. The defibrillator is inside and it may just help save someone’s life.”

Anyone who suspects someone may have gone into cardiac arrest should always ring 999 immediately to explain the situation.

Defibrillators can only be accessed using a code which 999 operators will give, along with instructions on how to correctly use it.

More information on defibrillators is available on the British Heart Foundation website at www.bhf.org.uk.