'My defibrillator campaign got 30 devices fitted'

A paramedic who set out to install a single defibrillator in her town, has stormed past her target and placed a total of 30 in her community.

Kerry Wood was studying for a degree in paramedic science when she became aware of the importance of the equipment and decided Evesham needed one.

Ms Woods, who now works for West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS), took to Facebook to raise funds, attracting the attention of the local council, which donated the one now installed on the side of her house.

Despite her success, she said she had "no intentions of stopping" and had recruited a team of four more women to "maintain the pace of the project".

Ms Woods' efforts are now supported by Karen Stephens, Donna Atkin, Kerry Yeates and Lynda Williams, with WMAS stressing the importance of making defibrillators available.

The device is used to shock someone's heart back into rhythm if they suffer a cardiac arrest, and can never be underestimated, the service added.

Since the devices have been installed in Evesham they have been used on nine patients.

Ms Woods said: "We have been so successful that we are seeking advice and support from the local rotary club, who have kindly offered to mentor and help us achieve charity status."

She thanked a team of electricians, who have helped install the devices for free, saying "without them none of this would be as successful as it is".

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