Team effort brings defibrillator

Potentially life-saving medical equipment was donated to Masterton District Council by St John yesterday.

The defibrillator was one of 20 donated by Philips Healthcare for every Rugby World Cup team to visit New Zealand.

The Automated External Defibrillator (AED) are now being distributed to communities by St John. Mayor Garry Daniell suggested the defibrillator could be placed in the Masterton District Council building.

"We're certainly very grateful for this," he said.

Wairarapa hosted the Georgian rugby team during the tournament, and Mr Daniell said it was great to have a reference back to them. "We really enjoyed having the Georgians here. They were a great team," he said.

St John Rugby World Cup manager Gary Salmon said the defibrillators had the potential to save lives.

"We are planning to donate them to the communities where the teams were based. Having an AED available can increase the chance of a person's survival by up to 40 per cent."

Thirty defibrillators have already been placed in community centres and sports clubs throughout Wairarapa by Trust House Community Trust.

The trust received a priory vote of thanks from St John for the donations.

So far, two of the defibrillators have been used in the region.

St John business development manager Carol Srhoy-Pullon also acknowledged the "fantastic work" by the trust, which has so far trained 300 people and recently replaced the pads on the defibrillators.

St John Wairarapa district volunteer manager Clive Holmes said this was the "greatest honour" which can be given to anybody outside the organisation.

Where are the defibrillators?

- EKETAHUNA, 27 Main St

- MASTERTON:

- Masterton District Council

- Greater Wellington Regional Council

- Trust Tavern Kuripuni

- Solway Park

- Masterton Golf Club

- Mahanga Golf Club

- Masterton Bowling Club

- Cafe Strada/Regent Three Cinemas

- Wairarapa Community Centre

- Mitre 10, Ngaumutawa Rd

- CARTERTON:

- Carterton Events Centre

- Carterton Golf Club

- Mobil

- Carterton Bowling Club

- Trust House Hockey

- FEATHERSTON:

- Featherston Supermarket

- Featherston Golf Club

- GREYTOWN:

- Greytown Supermarket

- Greytown Bowling Club

- Kuranui College

- MARTINBOROUGH:

- Martinborough Pain and Kershaw

- Martinborough Golf Club

- RURAL:

- Mauriceville, 329 North Rd, RD2

- Riversdale, Camp Anderson

- Castlepoint Campground

- Ngawi Fire Station

- Lake Ferry Fire Station

- Tinui, 20 Charles St

- Pirinoa Hall

- Flat Point, 1 Beach Rd

- Gladstone Hotel

- Pukaha Mt Bruce