Defibrillator installed at Bennachie Visitor Centre

THE Bennachie Centre Trust have announced the installation of a Public Access Defibrillator (PAD) at the Bennachie Visitor Centre.

The Bennachie Heart Appeal was launched this spring, with the aim of raising funds to purchase and install a PAD for the benefit of visitors to Bennachie and the wider local community.

As well as this, the appeal also aimed to raise awareness of how to use this life-saving piece of equipment.

Jan Lythgoe, Bennachie Visitor Centre warden, said: "Since the launch, visitors to the Bennachie Visitor Centre have supported the appeal in a lot of different ways.

"To everyone who has bought a t-shirt, badge or car sticker, made a donation, or attended a fundraising activity, we thank you."

With the support of a British Heart Foundation grant, the Bennachie Visitor Centre now also has a number of Call, Push, Rescue training kits and they are planning a series of informal practice sessions for the public.

Kicking things off will be an Emergency Services Day where visitors can come along and meet the teams who deal with emergencies every day.

It will take place on Sunday from 10am till 4pm and includes the Scottish Ambulance Service, Scottish Fire and Rescue, Aberdeen Mountain Rescue and COTAG 4x4.

Throughout the day the Scottish Ambulance Service will be running free practical Call, Push, Rescue sessions which show how to use the defibrillator.

Indoor and outdoor displays and demonstrations of equipment and vehicles will take place.

While this is a free event, it is pay and display for parking and donations will be collected on the day and be shared between all organisations represented.

Jan said: "We are extremely grateful to all the emergency services teams who are taking the time to spend the day with us.

"We all rely on them when things go wrong and they play a vital role at Bennachie."

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