A Defibrillator at the Roundabout

We have a new neighbour at PetVilla, and we hope it never has to go to work. It is a public AED, and it lives in the centre of the roundabout, up our driveway in front of the house and the cattery, at 125 Derham Road.

Here is why we put it there. We live in a bit of a gray zone between ambulance services, with Wellington Free and St John both nearby and some argument about who should come to our address. When we have called an ambulance, we have waited 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and once three hours. In a cardiac emergency, that is a very long time. So we decided to do something about it, for ourselves, for our customers, and for everyone living nearby.

It will help most on Derham Road, Paul Faith Lane, and the start of Morrison Road and Te Hapua Road. Along with the AED, the box holds a stethoscope, a skin thermometer, and the small first aid kit that came with it.

There is one hurdle. Our driveway is 70 metres long and the automatic gate is normally closed. So we put up a sign at the street with a keypad beside it. In an emergency, call 111 first. The operator will give you the gate code. Enter it, drive up, and the AED is waiting at the roundabout. It works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

We would rather it gathered dust. But if you ever need it, it is there.