Type=image;ImageID=5172;ImageClass=left;ImageTitle=Councillor Peter Bilson with Street Pastors Ray Morris and Matt Wragg;TitleClass=strong;
A defibrillator delivers an electric shock to the heart when someone is having a cardiac arrest and can restore a normal heart rhythm.
Used alongside cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) first aid, the use of a defibrillator administered quickly after a cardiac arrest can triple the chance of survival.
The machines have been paid for by the Safer Wolverhampton Partnership and will be located at Yates's in Queen Square and Faces Nightclub on Bilston Street.
The city's 15 strong team of Street Pastors, who voluntarily patrol the city centre looking after revellers on Friday and Saturday nights, have also been given one of the machines.
Councillor Peter Bilson, Deputy Leader of Wolverhampton City Council, said: "60,000 heart attacks happen outside of hospital in the UK every year and we know that quick treatment from a defibrillator alongside appropriate first aid can save lives.
"The British Heart Foundation recommends that defibrillators should be located in busy public places like the city centre.
"Staff at the venues and the street pastors have been trained to use the machines. They are very safe, the machines give out clear spoken instructions and have technology built in which can tell if the person's heart rhythm needs treatment by electric shock. It won't just do it automatically.
"The Safer Wolverhampton Partnership, of which the city council is a key partner, is very pleased to be able to fund these defibrillators that will save lives in the city."
Matt Wragg, Co-ordinator of Wolverhampton Street Pastors, said: "Paramedics and ambulance services are at times very busy and overstretched and 999 response times do vary. So for us to have one of the mobile defibrillator units out with us as part of the service we offer is fantastic reassurance to visitors in the city at night."
- released: Thursday 18 September, 2014