LIFE-SAVING equipment has been installed on the outside of Elmdon Church.
An automatic external defibrillator and bleed control kit have been put into place thanks to the efforts of residents and groups in the area.
Chris Rumney, an active volunteer in the Elmdon community, started her campaign to install a public access defibrillator last year.
The defibrillator and bleed kit were donated by West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS).
The cost of the installation was funded by the Elmdon Park Support Group, through sales of their Elmdon Park 2024 calendar.
Elmdon Church also had to apply for and obtain special permission from the Archdiocese to install the cabinet due to the Church’s Grade II listed status.
At the launch event Solihull Mayor, Councillor Shahin Ashraf, joined Chris and other community representatives to learn about the 18 months of liaising, coordinating and fundraising that was required.
At the event the defibrillator and bleed kit were placed in their cabinet for the first time and Andy Jeynes, paramedic from local charity FastAid, ran a community training session on how to use the new equipment.
Chris said: “This project wouldn’t have been possible without the all the support I’ve had from Elmdon Church, Elmdon Park Support Group and West Midlands Ambulance Service over the last 18 months.
“It’s so important to have public access defibrillators and bleed kits available in community open spaces like our parks, making this equipment easily accessible really does save lives.”
The Mayor of Solihull said: “I want to offer my sincere congratulations on the success of this project to Chris and the other project leads from Elmdon Church and Elmdon Park Support Group members who have worked so hard to make this happen. This is a life changing and lifesaving gift.”
