Heart attacks continue to be a terror of communities, devastating families and cutting lives far too short. To combat this, brethren at Southport Masonic Hall are proud to partner with Southport Saviours and install a new defibrillator outside the hall.
Defibrillators are devices used to provide an electric shock when a heart stops. Under such circumstances time is of the essence and as a result defibrillator stations have an effective coverage range of around 400 metres. As at 23 May 2023, Southport only had five defibrillator stations for the city centre (according to The Circuit) covering a population of around 94,000. These numbers obviously worsen in the summer tourist season and Southport Saviours was set up to combat this.
Southport Saviours are only a small charity, set up by just three people in May 2023, becoming five in February 2024. However, all have a connection to heart attacks, cardiac arrests and defibrillators in some way. The charity has an aim of not just trying to increase coverage in Southport, but also increasing awareness and providing training.
Southport Masonic Group were proud to support such a worthy cause, and under the leadership of the group chairman Phil Stock, worked with Southport Saviours to make the right things happen. The hall already has two defibrillators inside the building, but it was decided this was insufficient and a station was needed outside the building which could offer 24-hour coverage to the wider community, even when the hall itself is closed.
Having purchased the relevant equipment, it was then necessary to promote awareness in the unfortunate event that the device is needed and also ensure the proper expertise was available on site as often as possible. Southport Saviours were again able to provide assistance by informing the relevant authorities that the defibrillator was operational and ready for use. In the meantime, training was promptly organised by and among the Southport Masonic community to ensure the best possible coverage and increase the chances of success.
The item is not just there for Masons, but for the wider community and visitors to Southport who need help. should the worst happen, everyone is encouraged to make use of this valuable resource in order to help save lives.